Police charge suspects in Bali political clashes<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Denpasar\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police said on Monday they had detained at least 26 people, but
\nhad charged only six of them as suspects, as a result of the
\npolitical clashes in Buleleng regency in Bali, which killed two
\npersons.<\/p>\n
\"We are still pursuing dozens of others who were in one way or
\nanother involved in the unrest,\" Buleleng Police chief Adj. Sr.
\nCom. Muhammad Syafei said.<\/p>\n
He declined to identify the suspects. However, a source in the
\npolice investigation team named three of the six who had been
\ncharged as Rajin, 45, Siket, 50, and Gede Mertada alias Kekeh,
\n36.<\/p>\n
\"They were apprehended by police officers at a food stall near
\nthe crime scene a few hours after the incident took place,\" the
\nsource added.<\/p>\n
Syafei said the suspects would be charged under Article 170 of
\nthe Criminal Code for their alleged roles in Sunday's fatal
\nclashes between supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
They could face a maximum punishment of 12 years in jail under
\nthis article if they are found guilty of causing death or
\ndamaging property during the riots.<\/p>\n
The clashes erupted simultaneously in three areas in Buleleng,
\nwith the worst incident taking place at Petandakan village, some
\nseven kilometers from the northern coastal regency's capital,
\nSingaraja.<\/p>\n
Dozens of PDI Perjuangan supporters broke into the home of
\nPutu Negara, 39, a member of the local Golkar village committee
\nin Petandakan. The mob later dragged him to a house some 10
\nmeters away and beat him to death.<\/p>\n
Negara's younger brother, Ketut Agustana, 25, was killed as he
\ntried to shield the battered body of his brother.<\/p>\n
Petandakan is one of the PDI Perjuangan's strongholds in
\nBuleleng, some 100 kilometers from the Bali capital of Denpasar,
\nwith only a handful of Golkar supporters among the villagers
\nthere. All six suspects are reported to be from Petandakan.<\/p>\n
Syafei said the police had also confiscated eight swords, a
\nbow, 10 bamboo arrows and a number of spears, bricks and PDI
\nPerjuangan T-shirts.<\/p>\n
However, in an apparent move to avoid offending the huge army
\nof supporters of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's PDI
\nPerjuangan in Bali, the police were trying hard to depoliticize
\nthe investigation.<\/p>\n
Several senior police officers identified the attackers as
\n\"persons who were wearing PDI Perjuangan uniforms\" instead of
\n\"PDI Perjuangan supporters\".<\/p>\n
The incident forced at least 60 people, comprising Negara's
\nrelatives and other Golkar supporters from Petandakan, to flee
\nthe village and take refuge in Buleleng police headquarters.<\/p>\n
The bodies of Negara and Agustana are still in Singaraja
\nhospital's morgue. It is not clear when and where they will be
\nburied.<\/p>\n
A Golkar fact-finding team on Monday visited the victims'
\nbereaved relatives and inspected the two bodies.<\/p>\n
\"The party will cover the cost of the victims' cremation
\nceremonies. We will also provide full scholarships for their
\nthree children,\" said the leader of the nine-member Golkar team,
\nIGK Adhiputra.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono
\nAnung called for talks with Golkar to ease the tension and
\nprevent more political clashes in Bali.<\/p>\n
However, he was quoted by Antara as saying he was confused as
\nto who was responsible for the disturbances as all those involved
\nclaimed that the other side had started the trouble.<\/p>\n
Separately, Golkar deputy secretary-general Bomer Pasaribu
\nsaid that action needed to be taken to prevent the Bali conflict
\nfrom spreading to other regions. \"I call on all Golkar members to
\nexercise self-restraint.\"<\/p>\n
Bomer demanded that the authorities punish those guilty of the
\nviolence, saying the conflict might have something to do with
\nGolkar's revival in Bali.<\/p>\n
The clashes followed a Saturday rally by Golkar to mark the
\nanniversary of its founding in Tabanan, Bali. The event was
\nattended hundreds of Golkar supporters.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Monday the
\nrioting clearly showed the dangers that could arise ahead of the
\n2004 elections.<\/p>\n
He reminded all political parties to abide by the prevailing
\nregulations by notifying the police before holding any
\ngatherings.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the PDI Perjuangan and Golkar to
\nstop their respective members from engaging in such riots.<\/p>\n
\"The civilian guards of these parties need to be more
\ndisciplined and not act as militias,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-charge-suspects-in-bali-political-clashes-1447893297",
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