Jakarta rocked by more riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More violence erupted in Jakarta yesterday when
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) supporters staged street convoys
\ndespite the party's leaders' overnight decision to halt
\ncampaigning.<\/p>\n
Clashes involving supporters of the Moslem-based party and
\nsecurity forces broke out around the party's strongholds of
\nMampang and Kebayoran Baru in South Jakarta, and Kampung Melayu
\nand Klender in East Jakarta. Intermittent heavy rain checked the
\nmob, but thousands gathered again as soon as the rain let up.<\/p>\n
No fatalities were reported in the riots, that were a repeat
\nof Sunday's rampage. Police said at least 21 people were arrested
\nfor pelting stones at security officials and public buildings,
\nbut witnesses said that police took more than 50 people away.<\/p>\n
Order was restored shortly after nightfall but the city
\nremained tense with hundreds of police and military troops
\nstanding guard around riot-hit areas.<\/p>\n
Thousands of security officers fired tear gas canisters and
\nwarning shots into the air to disperse the mob that turned
\nviolent when they were not allowed to form street convoys.<\/p>\n
PPP Jakarta chapter's head, Rusjdi Hamka, said Monday night
\nthat the branch had canceled all campaign rallies, fearing more
\nviolence. The decision followed an agreement by the leaders of
\nthe three parties' Jakarta branches Saturday to call off open-air
\nrallies in the last five days of the campaign.<\/p>\n
The most serious scuffle was in Mampang. An angry mob toppled
\na 500-meter-long fence on the median strip on Jl. Warung Buncit
\nRaya and burned a stack of used tires, garbage and garbage carts.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said the skirmish began at about 2 p.m. after
\nsecurity forces fired warning shots to prevent PPP supporters
\npouring out of nearby slum areas to join a street procession.<\/p>\n
\"People standing along the street became angry when they heard
\nthe shots and started pelting the officers with stones,\" said a
\nwitness wearing a green PPP uniform.<\/p>\n
Another witness said the mob seized a camera from a Malaysian
\nTV3 crew member and beat up a reporter wearing a Reuters
\nidentification tag. Police also beat up a Republika daily
\nphotographer.<\/p>\n
At least 1,000 police, soldiers and marines were called in to
\nbreak up the mob, while a police chopper hovered overhead.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Hamdani, the city council PPP faction chairman, who
\nlives on Jl. Warung Buncit Raya, tried to calm the crowd but
\nfailed.<\/p>\n
Jakarta military commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso arrived with
\ncity police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata for an inspection just
\nafter security forces had restored order at about 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
An upset Sutiyoso said PPP supporters had breached the rules
\nset by the government and their leaders.<\/p>\n
\"They have seriously disappointed us. We tried to prevent
\nviolence, but they really intend to destroy (things),\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The PPP should take responsibility for the riots,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the disturbances could have been instigated by other
\ngroups because none of the people arrested were wearing PPP
\nclothing or carrying the party's symbol.<\/p>\n
In Kampung Melayu, witnesses said an armed mob began attacking
\nPPP supporters at exactly the same time as security officers, who
\nwere already in the area, fired the first tear gas.<\/p>\n
A red Volkswagen was smashed by attackers coming out of Jl.
\nPuskesmas. No buildings were damaged.<\/p>\n
\"The attackers, armed with long swords and machetes, were
\nignored by the officers while scores of them chased PPP
\nsupporters. Did you see their blatant discriminative treatment
\n(of PPP)?\" a local said.<\/p>\n
A youth was wounded in the leg when a tear gas canister
\nexploded near him, and a soldier was smashed in the face with a
\nstone in the sporadic clashes.<\/p>\n
In Kebayoran Lama, a department store and a bank were severely
\ndamaged after angry PPP supporters pelted them with stones.<\/p>\n
Sporadic violence also broke out in Bandung. Mobs pelted
\nstones at several shops along Jl. Cihampelas, Jl. ABC and Jl.
\nAchmad Yani. No injuries or further damage were reported.<\/p>\n
Golkar banners along Jl. Cihampelas were destroyed.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, about 150 people wearing PPP attire
\nwere arrested on their way home from yesterday's rallies for
\njeering, spitting and hurling stones at police. One of those
\narrested said he was paid Rp 6,000 (US$2.5) to do it.<\/p>\n
PPP supporters in Pekalongan, Central Java, burned four
\nmotorbikes after their riders refused to reply their one-finger
\nsignal, Antara reported. The party faithful also damaged a local
\nlegislator's car.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said in his end
\nof campaign statement that the country would see changes if his
\nparty won the general election on May 29.<\/p>\n
\"We will fight for laws which comply with people's
\nexpectations in all aspects of their lives,\" Ismail said. (team)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-rocked-by-more-riots-1447893297",
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