Police admit firing rubber bullets<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police in the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura
\nadmitted yesterday to firing rubber bullets into a crowd which
\nrefused to disperse during an Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nrally Monday, injuring four.<\/p>\n
The four, who were among an estimated 1,000 PDI supporters
\ntaking part in the rally from Abepura to Jayapura, are being
\ntreated at the Aryoko Army Hospital in Jayapura.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya police chief Brig. Gen. Sjahrel Achmad said members
\nof the police mobile brigade fired rubber bullets to disperse a
\ncrowd that had vandalized a patrol truck trapped in a motorcade.<\/p>\n
He said several police officers were wounded in the melee.
\n"The authorities fired into the crowd after their warning shots
\nwere ignored," Sjahrel was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
In the ensuing riot, three police trucks and dozens of houses
\nwere damaged. The crowd rampaged after a pregnant woman fell in
\nthe shooting incident.<\/p>\n
Sjahrel said the four people arrested for questioning Monday
\nwere released yesterday.<\/p>\n
According to Sjahrel, all members of the mobile brigade were
\narmed with rubber bullets. Riot police had rattan sticks.<\/p>\n
"Rubber bullets are not lethal," he said.<\/p>\n
The police chief said PDI should take responsibility for the
\nriot because all three contestants, PDI, Golkar and the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), had pledged to control their supporters
\nduring the campaign.<\/p>\n
But Irian Jaya PDI secretary Budi Baldus Waromi said his party
\nwas not responsible for the incident.<\/p>\n
"The riot was party supporters' spontaneous reaction to the
\nway the authorities handled the crowd. We are still investigating
\nwho triggered the violence," Budi said.<\/p>\n
He said the PPP supporters were on their way to Jayapura when
\nsecurity authorities blocked their way. A woman fell unconscious
\nin the scuffle, he said.<\/p>\n
The angry party supporters pelted the police with stones, at
\nwhich point military officers fired rubber bullets.<\/p>\n
Budi said he had formed a fact-finding team.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Irian Jaya election committee ordered Governor
\nJacob Pattipi to look into PDI Jayawijaya branch's complaint that
\nofficials in Tiom district banned the party from campaigning last
\nweek.<\/p>\n
Committee chairman Sulaiman said that Jayawijaya party
\nofficials claimed that a group of Tiom government officials, who
\nsupport Golkar, intimidated PDI supporters.<\/p>\n
"We have asked the governor to look into the report," Sulaiman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In Ujungpandang, thousands of ousted PDI leader Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri loyalists were disappointed yesterday after police
\nbarred them from holding a street rally.<\/p>\n
An official objection to a show of force on the street was
\nconveyed to pro-Megawati party leaders across the province's 23
\nregencies by Andi Potji.<\/p>\n
Andi, who chairs the South Sulawesi PDI chapter loyal to
\nMegawati, said the police could not guarantee security for a
\nstreet rally.<\/p>\n
Thousands of Megawati loyalists paraded in the city's streets
\non May 12, foiling a rally organized by supporters of government-
\nbacked PDI chief Soerjadi.<\/p>\n
Potji said he could understand the police's reason for banning
\nthe street rally. (pan\/30)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-admit-firing-rubber-bullets-1447893297",
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