Party chapter orders weapons<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): A local chapter of a political
\nparty has ordered hundreds of sharp weapons from a factory in
\nKlaten ahead of the June 7 elections, an official said here.<\/p>\n
\"I do not know the motive, but I deplore the move because it
\nis not creating a climate of peace ahead of the poll,\" Gunanto
\nSuryono, chairman of the provincial poll supervisory committee,
\nsaid. He added Governor Mardiyanto was notified of his report.<\/p>\n
Gunanto refused to name the political party but said there was
\nan order of up to 125 sharp weapons to the factory. The source of
\nthe report was also undisclosed.<\/p>\n
The province has been rocked by violence between political
\nparties in the recent weeks.<\/p>\n
At least four people were killed and dozens more injured in a
\nclash between people identified as supporters from the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) in
\nthe Jepara regency late April.<\/p>\n
Another two were injured in a brawl between supporters of the
\nGolkar party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Semarang Police chief Lt. Col. Mathius Salempang said police
\nwere still questioning 12 people allegedly involved in the Sunday
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
There are fears that widespread violence will disrupt the
\npoll, which is seen as a key test of transition to democracy
\nfollowing the resignation last year of former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in the riot-torn Maluku capital of Ambon, leaders of
\npolitical parties campaigning for the elections signed a peace
\naccord on Monday.<\/p>\n
Also present were Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Maluku Police
\nChief Col. Bugis Saman.<\/p>\n
Ambon and a number of islands in the province were rocked by
\nreligious clashes in which at least 300 were killed since
\nJanuary.<\/p>\n
In Padang, West Sumatra, at least 40 executives of a local
\nchapter of the ruling Golkar party have resigned, favoring their
\njob as civil servants.
\nA new electoral ruling bans civil servants from joining
\npolitical parties in a bid to ensure their neutrality. For years,
\nmillions of civil servants and their families formed an important
\nsource of Golkar votes.<\/p>\n
Sueb Karseno, a secretary of the local chapter of Golkar, said
\non Tuesday that among those who had resigned were a number of
\nlocal legislators.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Latief Burhan, chairman of the People's
\nSovereignty Party (PDR) denied allegations that the party
\ndiverted the social safety net funds for its political interest.<\/p>\n
\"PDR is ready to be audited and to be punished if proven
\nguilty of being involved in money politics through the social
\nsafety net program and village cooperatives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Latief acknowledged that the party was participating in the
\ndistribution of the funds for the needy and providing credit
\nschemes to farmers and fishermen in cooperation with village
\ncooperatives.<\/p>\n
\"It is impossible for us to embezzle the funds because their
\ndistribution has been closely monitored by the government and the
\ncentral bank,\" he said.<\/p>\n
PDR and the ruling Golkar Party were accused of abusing the
\nfunds when the National Development Planning Board said that some
\nRp 8 trillion leaked from the funds had fallen to political
\nparties.<\/p>\n
Hasballah M. Saad, representative of the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN) in the General Election Commission (KPU) revealed
\nthat while on his recent visit to Aceh, Riau and South Sumatra,
\nhe received reports indicating abuse of the safety net funds by
\nPDR.<\/p>\n
Latief said the party would seek clarification from Hasballah.<\/p>\n
Also on Tuesday the Secretary General of the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) Iskandar Muhaimin said the party was
\nmulling over the timing of naming its patron Abdurrahman Wahid,
\nas presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
\"The problem now is whether to announce the nomination before
\nor after the election.<\/p>\n
\"Some say it is better to officially name him after the
\npoll... because if PKB lost the election, it is likely to cancel
\nthe announcement,\" Iskandar said.<\/p>\n
He also said PKB has set a joint campaign schedule with PDI
\nPerjuangan in several areas of Central and East Java. \"We hope it
\ncould eliminate violence.\" (har\/byg\/rms\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/party-chapter-orders-weapons-1447893297",
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