Pro-govt activists launch campaign of terror in E. Java<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Threats and intimidation of local party and
\ngovernment officials marked demonstrations by supporters of the
\nPresident in East Java on Monday.<\/p>\n
The protesters in Tuban in East Java sealed off Golkar Party's
\nlocal office and forced the local legislative council, Deputy
\nRegent Sukirman, the prosecutor's office and the local office of
\nthe National Agrarian Agency to support the action.<\/p>\n
They also pelted stones at the building, seriously damaging
\nthe property.<\/p>\n
The protesters marched to Tuban Regent Hindarto's residence to
\nforce him to put his signature on a petition, which rejected the
\nHouse of Representatives' recent memorandum against President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid and demanded the dissolution of the House and
\nGolkar.<\/p>\n
They marched to the local legislative council building with
\nthe same purpose after failing to meet with Hindarto. The regent
\nwas reportedly out of town, avoiding the protesters.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that the protesters dispersed after the
\nchairman of the local legislative council signed the petition.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, hundreds of civilian guards stayed on alert
\naround the office of the largest Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim
\norganization's East Java chapter after an unidentified person
\ninformed that several bombs were planted in the building.<\/p>\n
\"A person phoned at 2 p.m. claiming that the bombs are going
\nto explode immediately,\" Zaini Ilyas, a staff at the office,
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The information turned out to be a hoax.<\/p>\n
In a related development, the police have detained 11 suspects
\nallegedly involved in acts of vandalism and the burning of Golkar
\nparty offices in East Java last week, National Police Chief Gen.
\nSurojo Bimantoro said here on Monday.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro also revealed that besides supporters of NU, members
\nof the tiny Democratic People's Party (PRD) were also involved in
\nthe acts.<\/p>\n
\"I received a report that PRD members were involved, besides
\nNU members,\" the four-star general told reporters.<\/p>\n
Golkar leaders, including chairman Akbar Tandjung, have
\nearlier accused PRD along with other student groups, such as City
\nForum (Forkot), Student and People's Forum for Democracy (Famred)
\nand Collective Forum (Forbes), of being behind the vandalism.<\/p>\n
Golkar also reported the vandalism to the National Police
\nheadquarters and filed a complaint against NU chairman Hasyim
\nMuzadi for slandering Akbar.<\/p>\n
PRD chairman Budiman Sudjatmiko has denied the party's
\ninvolvement in the acts, although admitting that it was in the
\nforefront in campaigning for the disbandment of Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
In return, Budiman reported to police Akbar and his deputy
\nMahadi Sinambela for slandering PRD with their statements.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, 40 NU clerics from West Java and Banten provinces
\ncalled on the President to step down voluntarily to avoid a
\npossible civil war.<\/p>\n
\"The continuing political stability and economic crisis is
\nevidence that the President has been unable to lead the nation,\"
\nLili Soemantri, spokesman for the ulemas, said in a meeting with
\nHouse Speaker Akbar Tandjung here on Monday.<\/p>\n
Lili, a director of an Islamic boarding school in Bandung,
\nsaid the 40 ulemas represented 400 NU clerics and 500,000
\nstudents of Islamic boarding schools in both provinces' 20
\nregencies, including Tangerang, Serang, Bandung, Sukabumi, Ciamis
\nand Subang.<\/p>\n
The clerics also met with Amien Rais, chairman of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, to air similar demands.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in West Java Nanang
\nIskandar Ma'soem, however, dismissed claims that the ulemas
\nrepresented the aspirations of NU's West Java chapter.<\/p>\n
\"Several ulemas, who claimed to be NU members from West Java
\nand have 500,000 supporters, were never recognized by the real NU
\nmembers here,\" Nanang said in a statement as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Separately, Ahmad Sumargono, chairman of the National Muslim
\nBrotherhood Movement, also called on the President to resign to
\nend the political chaos.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, around 200 senior high school students from East
\nJakarta held a demonstration near the House compound to express
\ntheir support for the President.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, dozens of people representing 35 mass
\norganizations in East Java also held a meeting with House Speaker
\nAkbar Tandjung, accusing the House of having provoked people's
\nanger with the memorandum.<\/p>\n
\"The House should be held responsible for its actions. Akbar
\nTandjung and Amien Rais should resign as they had failed to fight
\nfor the people's interests,\" they said in a statement.<\/p>\n
They also urged the dissolution of Golkar Party.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, outside the complex thousands of students from the
\nIndonesian Students and Muslim Clerics Forum (FPSI) along with
\nthe Nation Defender Movement (Gerapana) staged a protest, urging
\nthe members of the political elite to stop bickering.<\/p>\n
In Magelang, Central Java on Monday, some 20,000 supporters of
\nAbdurrahman marched 20 kilometers to Krasak Bridge to throw the
\neffigies of Akbar Tandjung and Amien Rais, symbolically
\nexpressing their support for the President.<\/p>\n
\"This procession is symbolic in the Javanese tradition of
\nthrowing away bad luck,\" a protester said, adding that the
\nprocession is known as larungan.<\/p>\n
In the North Sumatra capital of Medan two groups of
\nprotesters, consisting of hundreds of students marched to the
\nprovincial legislature on Monday, urging the President to resign,
\nand condemning the anarchistic actions of his supporters.<\/p>\n
The students also denounced the corruption, collusion and
\nnepotistic practices (KKN) committed during Abdurrahman's
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, protests by both supporters and critics of the
\ngovernment were held in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Monday.
\n(rms\/dja\/edt\/jun\/nur\/44\/39\/27)<\/p>",
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