PPP supporters attack PLN office after blackout<\/p>\n
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): A United Development Party
\n(PPP) rally turned violent here yesterday when supporters
\nattacked an office of state electricity company PLN after a
\nblackout.<\/p>\n
The front windows and doors on the first four floors of the
\nsix-story building were smashed before riot police managed to
\ncontain the crowd.<\/p>\n
The mob was driven back to the rally in a soccer field across
\nthe street from the building. No injuries were reported and no
\narrests were made.<\/p>\n
Rioting also broke out in the Central Java town of Pekalongan,
\nwhere PPP and Golkar supporters clashed Wednesday night. At least
\neight people were injured, several houses damaged, two
\nmotorcycles torched and a government building vandalized.<\/p>\n
The riot in Ujungpandang erupted 10 minutes after the rally of
\nabout 15,000 people began at 2 p.m. The sound system failed,
\nthrowing the rally into disarray.<\/p>\n
Angry people crossed the street and threw stones at the PLN
\nbuilding. They were only dispersed after riot police
\nreinforcements arrived.<\/p>\n
Sulawesi regional military chief Maj. Gen. Agum Gumelar, South
\nSulawesi provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Ali Hanafiah and
\nother top Armed Forces staff were at the rally. They quickly left
\nwhen the crowd began to run amok.<\/p>\n
Tension was high after the crowd was driven back to the field
\nand more riot police reinforcements arrived. The mob hurled
\nstones and abuse at the reinforcements.<\/p>\n
Kyai Hardi Kiaidemak, who was supposed to lead the rally,
\ncondemned the riot.<\/p>\n
PLN spokesman Budi Harjanto said the blackout was an accident
\nand not intended to disrupt the rally.<\/p>\n
He said the blackout happened after a 150 kilowatt cable in
\nthe Pangkep regency distribution system was cut off. The system
\nwas restored at 3:15 p.m.<\/p>\n
In Pekalongan, a PPP stronghold, police and troops patrolled
\nthe streets last night to anticipate more unrest in the batik-
\nmaking coastal town.<\/p>\n
The riots there began at about 9 p.m. Wednesday and continued
\nuntil 2 a.m. yesterday.<\/p>\n
Eyewitnesses said the incident began when a group of Golkar
\nsupporters on motorbikes were pelted with stones on Jl. Kartini.
\nThey did not fight back.<\/p>\n
As they rode on, they were attacked by another group of
\nstrangers believed to be PPP supporters. Four Golkar supporters
\nreceived head injuries from flying stones.<\/p>\n
A huge brawl erupted when more Golkar activists returned to
\nthe site of incident. Four PPP supporters were injured.<\/p>\n
PPP activists then ran amuck in Buaran, Krapyak, Medono and
\nPringlanggu after hearing rumors that the four had died. They
\nvandalized houses and motorcycles.<\/p>\n
Security officers fired tear gas to disperse the PPP
\nsupporters. Residents said people kept roaming in groups, yelling
\nanti-Golkar slogans.<\/p>\n
Golkar and PPP supporters have clashed violently several times
\nsince March when PPP supporters burnt down a stage to be used for
\na Golkar music show featuring Dangdut singer Rhoma Irama, who was
\nonce a PPP activist.<\/p>\n
The removal of both parties' flags in subsequent incidents has
\ntriggered more violence. (30\/37\/har\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ppp-supporters-attack-pln-office-after-blackout-1447893297",
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