PDI factions lock horns in Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Tension between the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty's (PDI) two factions here rose to a new high yesterday when
\na brawl pitting the conflicting supporters marred the party's
\ncampaigning in the city.<\/p>\n
No fatalities were reported in the incident in Pakem
\nsubdistrict, 15 kilometers north of here, thanks to the prompt
\narrival of troops and riot police.<\/p>\n
The brawl was the second of its kind during the campaign
\nfollowing a similar incident in Surabaya, East Java.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's scuffle erupted when 350 supporters of ousted PDI
\nleader Megawati Soekarnoputri clashed with 75 activists of the
\ngovernment-backed PDI under Soerjadi. Both groups were on their
\nway to a rally in Cangkringan, near Pakem.<\/p>\n
The Megawati loyalists had just attended the funeral of fellow
\nloyalist Suwarni Bimo Budi Sanyoto at Krapyak, 10 kilometers
\nsouth of the sultanate city.<\/p>\n
Instead of going home, some of the funeral attendees roared to
\nCangkringan in a motorcade.<\/p>\n
When confronting their rivals, the Megawati activists began by
\ntaunting the Soerjadi supporters. The war of words however
\nquickly turned into an exchange of stones.<\/p>\n
It was a one-sided contest with the Megawati supporters
\nforcing their opponents to abandon their trucks and motorbikes
\nand scatter.<\/p>\n
The security authorities arrested an unidentified Megawati
\nsupporter but released him after one of his friends lobbied them.<\/p>\n
\"The incident is more evidence that Megawati loyalists make up
\nthe majority of PDI members in this city,\" Wirawan, a Megawati
\nsupporter, said.<\/p>\n
Megawati, elected PDI chairwomen by popular support in 1993,
\nwas removed from the top spot at a government-backed congress
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
Calm campaign<\/p>\n
The security authorities did not have to worry in either
\nJakarta, Bandung, West Java or Surabaya, as the PDI campaigning
\nproceeded without traffic-jamming street motorcades.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, PDI Chairman Soerjadi addressed thousands of party
\nsupporters who braved heavy rain at Ahmad Yani field in Kebayoran
\nLama, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi criticized the government for using illogical
\nstandards to compile poverty statistics.<\/p>\n
\"The number of poor people in Indonesia has decreased, but
\nonly because the current data sets a minimum monthly income of Rp
\n27,905 (US$11.30) as the poverty line,\" Soerjadi said.<\/p>\n
\"What can people buy with such an amount?\" he added.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto told a plenary session of the House of
\nRepresentatives when submitting the 1997\/1998 budget that the
\nnumber of Indonesians living below the poverty line dropped to 22
\nmillion in 1996 from almost 26 million in 1993.<\/p>\n
In Bandung only a few small convoys carried chanting PDI
\nsupporters to rallies.<\/p>\n
The party's West Java branch chief Idi Siswaya said that his
\noffice was not organizing any rallies but had ordered supporters
\nto distribute placards and banners.<\/p>\n
An elated provincial police spokesman, Lt. Col. Istanto,
\nhailed the quiet day after the deafening rallies of previous
\ndays.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, 100 PDI activists were lured away from rallies in
\nRungkut Madya and Krembangan Baru just as campaigners were about
\nto speak, after Megawati supporters enticed them into holding a
\ncitywide motorcade instead.<\/p>\n
Despite the small number of remaining attendees, mostly
\nchildren, the rallies proceeded. (23\/nur\/ahy\/amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-factions-lock-horns-in-yogyakarta-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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