Six snakes and rampage interrupt PDI rallies<\/p>\n
KEDIRI, East Java (JP): Six snakes interrupted a rally
\nyesterday held by the government-sanctioned faction of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and attended by its chairman,
\nSoerjadi.<\/p>\n
PDI Kediri branch chief Gondo Soedjito was midway through his
\nintroductory speech when the snakes were thrown onto the stage by
\nunidentified people in the 5,000-strong audience.<\/p>\n
It took security forces and the party's civilian guards around
\nten minutes to catch the poisonous weling snakes (Latin: bungarus
\ncandidus) and restore order. Nobody was bitten by the notorious
\nindigenous snakes.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi was seated on the stage when the snakes appeared. But
\nhis expression betrayed no fear when he started his speech
\nshortly after order was restored.<\/p>\n
No security officers tried to catch the culprits.<\/p>\n
It was only the second town in East Java that Soerjadi had
\nvisited since going to Jember on May 4.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people yelled in support of the party's ousted
\nleader Megawati Soekarnoputri just five minutes after Soerjadi
\nbegan his speech.<\/p>\n
\"Long live Megawati, long live democracy,\" they chanted. They
\nthen marched out of the venue, the Katang soccer field. When
\nSoerjadi ended his 30-minute speech, only about 50 people
\nremained.<\/p>\n
Kediri, about 150 kilometers south of the East Java capital of
\nSurabaya, is a stronghold of Megawati supporters.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi said the incident was provoked by \"people who wanted
\nto disrupt the general election. They try to undermine our party,
\nbut they will not discourage us.\"<\/p>\n
Gondo said the disturbance was unexpected. \"I thought those
\npeople were eager to meet the party's chairman. I did not know
\nthey intended to cause a disturbance,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in Surabaya, police arrested three people wearing T-
\nshirts bearing pictures of Megawati on Jl. Walikota Mustajab. The
\npolice also found firecrackers and five bottles of gasoline near
\nthe rally venue.<\/p>\n
Riot<\/p>\n
A riot marred the PDI's rally in Jayapura, Irian Jaya,
\nseriously injuring at least four people. Antara reported that
\npolice fired warning shots to stop thousands who rampaged after a
\npregnant woman fell and hemorrhaged at the rally.<\/p>\n
A civilian guard at the rally said a rumor that the woman had
\nbeen hit by a bullet caused the violence to escalate.<\/p>\n
The mob threw stones at several buildings in the Skyline
\ndistrict on their way to the province capital.<\/p>\n
At least 4,000 people had been at the rally in the Trikora
\nfield, Abepura district.<\/p>\n
PDI campaigning in Jakarta proceeded as quietly as in earlier
\nrounds. The party held indoor rallies in 13 subdistricts across
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
Police and soldiers, armed with automatic weapons, guarded the
\nrally venues.<\/p>\n
The rallies were incident free, despite the circulation of
\nleaflets with pictures of Megawati and the Moslem-based United
\nDevelopment Party's (PPP) chairman, Ismail Hasan Metareum, at the
\nvenues. Some people also bore flags with the PPP's five-pointed
\nstar on a red background, which symbolizes the alliance between
\nMegawati and Ismail.<\/p>\n
PDI campaigner Loekman Mokoginta addressed about 100 youths
\nand students at an indoor rally in Semarang. Loekman focussed on
\nimproving the bureaucracy and poverty alleviation.<\/p>\n
\"A total war against all forms of corruption and collusion
\nshould be initiated nationwide for a clean government and
\nbureaucracy which serves the public,\" Loekman said.
\n(nur\/01\/amd\/har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/six-snakes-and-rampage-interrupt-pdi-rallies-1447893297",
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