Megawati's victory calms unrest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fresh unrest erupted in several cities
\nnationwide on Thursday following Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri's
\npresidential election defeat to Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid a
\nday earlier.<\/p>\n
Riots rocked Bali, the traditional political stronghold of
\nMegawati, on Thursday, paralyzing the capital of Denpasar with
\nlooting and arson as well as triggering disturbances in areas of
\nBadung regency.<\/p>\n
Tension reportedly eased after Megawati was elected the
\ncountry's vice president on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
Following unrest a day earlier, some 130 inmates fled the
\nSingaraja Penitentiary in Buleleng regency after mobs vandalized
\nthe prison, Bali Police detective chief Col. Bambang Hendarto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The first incident occurred on Thursday in front of the
\ncouncil building and spread to the nearby compound of Maranatha
\nChurch after about 300 people started to vandalize the
\nlegislative building in Denpasar.<\/p>\n
Police separately arrested 16 alleged rioters. Four were
\narrested after the council office incident and 12 others were
\ncaught after allegedly wrecking, looting and burning Sudirman
\nAgung Mall on Jl. Sudirman later in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
In another part of Denpasar, a mob believed to be supporters
\nof PDI Perjuangan, blocked some of the city's main streets.<\/p>\n
The mob, wearing T-shirts with Megawati Soekarnoputri's
\npicture on it, set fire on Thursday to buildings such as the
\nBadung Regent office, Badung Council, Golkar branch office, Panti
\nGraha meeting hall, as well as dozens of cars belonging to
\ngovernment employees.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Buleleng and Singaraja returned to normal on
\nThursday after a mob damaged four buildings and set two
\nmotorcycles ablaze shortly after Abdurrahman was elected
\nIndonesia's fourth president on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Among the buildings burned were the office of the Buleleng
\nRegent and his official house, and the bus station of Penarukan
\nin Singaraja.<\/p>\n
Buildings which only sustained light damage were the office of
\nthe local Golkar Party executive board, the local branch offices
\nof Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Bank Central Asia (BCA) and
\nDanamon Bank.<\/p>\n
Security forces in Buleleng were still trying to calm some
\n15,000 supporters of PDI Perjuangan who torched the regent's
\nhouse and office, Buleleng Police chief Lt. Col. Abdul Rachman
\nsaid on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
Bali Police chief Brig. Gen. Gunawan urged residents to be
\ncalm and avoid taking any destructive measures.<\/p>\n
"We will all suffer here if this outburst of anger continues,"
\nGunawan said.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that the Gilimanuk ferry port
\nwas paralyzed on Thursday following the riots which erupted in
\nthe Jembrana area of Bali the day before.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of angry masses flocked to Gilimanuk port and burned
\ntires as well as blocked streets, forcing passengers to flee for
\nsafety.<\/p>\n
The Gilimanuk port connects Bali with the two main ports of
\nKetapang in Madura and Banyuwangi, East Java. Dozens of ships
\nhalted operations and berthed at the docks of Ketapang port.<\/p>\n
In Batam, supporters of PDI Perjuangan went on a rampage and
\ndestroyed the facilities of the Sekupang seaport on Thursday.
\nThey vandalized and set ablaze a dozen parked cars in a housing
\ncomplex, but no fatalities were reported, Antara said.<\/p>\n
"The crowd suddenly pelted stones and damaged the compound,"
\nAshidiq, a port official, said.<\/p>\n
The dispute was believed to have been sparked by the masses
\nconcentrated in the seaport when the vessel Sinabung docked to
\nboard passengers for Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, seven party supporters, allegedly involved in
\nWednesday's unrest in Batam, were arrested by security officers,
\nan official said.<\/p>\n
"Seven party supporters are now detained at the Barelang
\nPolice station," Director for Security Affairs of the Batam
\nAuthority Brig. Gen. Eric Wotulo told Antara in Batam on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Unrest erupted in Riau's special district following the
\nresults of the presidential election on Wednesday. No fatalities
\nwere reported in Wednesday's riot.<\/p>\n
Soerya Respationo, an official of local PDI Perjuangan office,
\nasked party supporters to not be easily provoked by rumors.<\/p>\n
The situation was normal in Batam on Thursday despite fresh
\nrumors that looting may continue in the city.<\/p>\n
In Medan, North Sumatra, hundreds of Megawati's supporters
\nthronged the streets and vandalized the North Sumatra Provincial
\nLegislative Council building.<\/p>\n
They expressed anger by shouting and burning tires, but
\neventually dispersed later in the afternoon.<\/p>\n
No fatalities were reported in the disturbance which lasted
\nuntil about 5 p.m. (39\/zen\/edt\/imn)<\/p>",
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