Golkar, PDI Perjuangan supporters clash<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
Sporadic clashes between supporters of the Golkar Party and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) erupted
\nin Tabanan, Bali, on Saturday, giving some indication of the
\nsecurity problems the nation could face in the general election
\nnext year.<\/p>\n
At least six women were injured, and two motorbikes, five
\ncars, one truck and two houses vandalized in at least six attacks
\nthat marred the celebration of Golkar's 39th anniversary on the
\nisland, which is a PDI Perjuangan stronghold.<\/p>\n
The women dancers, who were middle aged, were part of a
\ntraditional performing arts group taking part in the celebration
\nat Padanggalak Square in Sanur district in Tabanan. They were
\nrushed to Tabanan Hospital with head injuries.<\/p>\n
The Tabanan Police fired warning shots and used tear gas to
\ndisperse PDI Perjuangan supporters who intercepted a convoy of
\n2,700 Golkar supporters who were passing through Pasekan
\nsubdistrict in Selemadeg district on their way to Padanggalak
\nSquare.<\/p>\n
There were reports that one PDI Perjuangan supporter sustained
\na gunshot wound, but Tabanan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Aan
\nIskandar denied the rumor.<\/p>\n
Aan said some 1,000 Mobile Brigade police troops were deployed
\nto maintain order in the regency following the trouble.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the violence in Pasekan subdistrict erupted
\nafter a crowd of people wearing PDI Perjuangan T-shirts tried to
\nblock the Golkar convoy. They set a motorbike on fire and
\nvandalized four cars after the convoy refused to stop.<\/p>\n
The Golkar supporters managed to flee, only to come under
\nfurther attack. The worst assault took place in Kediri when PDI
\nPerjuangan supporters burned one of the trucks carrying the
\nGolkar supporters.<\/p>\n
Police troops damaged three cars belonging to the attackers
\nwhen they gave chase to the assailants.<\/p>\n
"The attackers repeatedly tried to violently break the
\nsecurity cordon, so I can understand why my personnel were a bit
\nemotional," Aan said.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, a convoy of Golkar Youth Development Force (AMPG)
\nmembers was intercepted near Alit Saputra Square in Tabanan
\ndowntown. They sought safety at a nearby military office.<\/p>\n
Another incident took place late in the evening in Megati
\nsubdistrict, where a returning convoy of Golkar supporters were
\npelted with stones by a group of people, who, unlike other
\nattackers, did not wear any PDI Perjuangan symbols.<\/p>\n
Recently, Tabanan emerged as the most volatile place, marked
\nby repeated clashes involving supporters of Golkar and PDI
\nPerjuangan. Golkar's office in Tabanan has been attacked twice in
\nthe past five days.<\/p>\n
Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung said the attacks would not
\ndiscourage people who support the party.<\/p>\n
"Even when the party's office is vandalized, as happened in
\nBali, it will not influence the growing public support for
\nGolkar," he said.<\/p>\n
Some 15,000 Golkar supporters attended the celebration, which
\nwas highlighted by the performance of hip-gyrating dangdut singer
\nInul Daratista. All the party's seven presidential candidates
\nwere present at the event.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/golkar-pdi-perjuangan-supporters-clash-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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