Golkar complains about stone-pelting incident<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Saturday
\nthat his party would lodge a complaint with the General Elections
\nCommission and the Elections Supervisory Committee following acts
\nof stone-pelting against Golkar executives in Central Java.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Golkar supporters in the town of Purbalingga were
\nharassed on Friday by hundreds of other people clad in the party
\nemblem of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) under Megawati Soekarnoputri, but executives of the
\nlatter party denied links with the mob.<\/p>\n
Akbar, who is also the minister\/state secretary, was trapped
\nin the melee -- but emerged unhurt.<\/p>\n
As quoted by Antara in West Sumatra's Batusangkar town hours
\nafter the incident, Akbar lashed out saying the attack was
\n\"inhumane and antidemocratic\".<\/p>\n
\"Golkar is not afraid of them. (But) Golkar won't retaliate
\nthe rude treatment,\" Akbar said.<\/p>\n
Golkar's Central Java chapter's secretary, Soetoyo Abadi, said
\n10 people sustained slight injuries from stones thrown by the
\nmob. A pickup belonging to Golkar was vandalized and set ablaze
\nwhile two others were vandalized.<\/p>\n
The mobs also vandalized a stage prepared for Golkar's
\ngathering in the town's Wasesa soccer field, removed Golkar's
\nemblems and halted Golkar supporters on their way to the field
\nand forced male and female supporters to take off their Golkar
\nuniforms. Party emblems were then set on fire.<\/p>\n
Joint police-military security forces -- led by Purbalingga
\ndeputy police chief Maj. Sugito -- which escorted Akbar did
\nnothing to stop the violence, reports said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"They pelted us and burned a car. Why were they not arrested?\"
\nAkbar asked Sugito shortly after the incident, reported Kompas.
\nReports said no one was arrested on Friday.<\/p>\n
The melee caused Golkar to move its gathering to a local
\nlegislature office, where Akbar gave a speech calling for
\nsupporters to stay cool over the incident.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, PDI Perjuangan's Central Java chapter's chairman,
\nSoeratal, said he could not confirm that the mob was actually
\nfrom his party. Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has preached
\nrepeatedly against violence.<\/p>\n
\"They could have been clad in PDI Perjuangan's emblem, but
\nthey were not necessarily PDI Perjuangan supporters,\" Soeratal
\ninsisted. It is as yet unclear if they could produce their party
\nmembership cards, he added.<\/p>\n
Long before election campaigns slated to start on May 19
\nthrough June 4, many have expressed fears of violence.<\/p>\n
Friday's incident was just one of several involving supporters
\nof other parties. Golkar's Central Java chapter has also reported
\nto police the vandalizing of hundreds of party symbols.<\/p>\n
On Saturday in Rembang, about 100 people identified as
\nsupporters of the National Awakening Party (PKB) about to follow
\nthe party's declaration, were also pelted with stones by people
\nbelieved to be local residents.<\/p>\n
Ten PKB supporters sustained injuries. PKB founder Cholil
\nBisri urged members and supporters to refrain from seeking
\nrevenge.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Central Java's Military Chief Maj. Gen. Bibit
\nWaluyo urged leaders of political parties to control their
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
\"Let's face our elections with a democratic heart, ready to
\naccept a party's victory, but also ready to take defeat
\nwholeheartedly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta on Saturday, the General Elections Commission's
\nchairman, Rudini, reminded party leaders of possible party
\ndisqualification from campaigning in a certain electoral district
\nif leaders of the party in the area were considered to have
\nfailed to control their members.<\/p>\n
\"The sanctions are clearly stipulated in the campaign's code
\nof conduct,\" the former minister of home affairs said.
\n(aan\/har\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-complains-about-stone-pelting-incident-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}