Two killed, six injured in attack at PDI-P office<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
At least seven people were seriously injured when thousands of
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nsupporters attacked the party's provincial office here on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The party supporters arrived from several districts in Medan,
\nled by Doni Arsal Gultom, and were protesting the decision of the
\nNorth Sumatra provincial office of PDI Perjuangan to approve the
\nappointment of Usaha Ginting as chairman of the party's Medan
\nbranch.<\/p>\n
The angry supporters, many armed with knives, machetes,
\nsickles and other sharp weapons, arrived at the building at
\naround 11:30 a.m. and went on a rampage.<\/p>\n
Some 85 party members inside the building tried to resist the
\nattackers, but they were outnumbered.<\/p>\n
The attackers also tried to set the building on fire, but
\nfailed.<\/p>\n
For nearly an hour, the attackers ran amok, destroying the
\nbuilding's windows and fences. Six motorcycles parked at the
\ncompound were also destroyed.<\/p>\n
Those who were injured were identified as Benny Yusar, Kasman
\nSimarmata, Zaenal Abidin, Rudiansyah, Hotma Indra, Ridwan
\nHutabarat and Aceng.<\/p>\n
The protesters accused the provincial office of failing to
\nhonor a decision reached at a congress in April 2002, when Doni
\nArsal Gultom was elected chairman of the Medan branch.<\/p>\n
The provincial office had held another congress on Sept. 22
\nthis year to overrule Doni's election.<\/p>\n
Monday's congress, attended by the heads of 39 of 60 sub-
\nbranches in North Sumatra, elected Usaha Ginting as chairman of
\nthe Medan branch of PDI Perjuangan.<\/p>\n
The protesters charged that Ginting's appointment was illegal
\nand a scheme to oust Doni Arsal Gultom.<\/p>\n
Although Doni was elected chairman of the Medan branch last
\nyear, the North Sumatra provincial office never endorsed his
\nappointment, which delayed the party's central board of
\nexecutives -- led by Megawati Soekarnoputri -- in issuing a
\nletter of approval for Doni's appointment.<\/p>\n
Head of the Medan Polonia sub-branch Ranjid, who joined
\nThursday's attack, said the incident could have been avoided
\nhad the North Sumatra provincial office honored the results of
\nthe 2002 congress.<\/p>\n
Ranjid added that the protesters could not tolerate the
\nprovincial office's decision to allow the recent congress to be
\nheld.<\/p>\n
\"The participants of last year's congress elected Doni Arsal
\nas chairman (of the Medan branch), so why did the provincial
\noffice allow the (recent) congress? This is unacceptable, and a
\nviolation of party rules,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Ranjid urged the party's leaders in Jakarta not to issue a
\nletter approving Usaha Ginting's appointment.<\/p>\n
\"If chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri approves of Usaha
\nGinting's appointment, we are ready to continue our opposition,\"
\nsaid Ranjid.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of PDI Perjuangan North Sumatra Japorman
\nSaragih said the recent congress was held upon instruction from
\nthe party's central board in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We were just following party orders. We didn't know the
\nreason behind the instruction,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Japorman regretted the attack and added, \"We respect their
\naspirations to protest the decision, but they should not have
\nresorted to anarchy. We want the police to deal with this.\"<\/p>\n
Medan Police chief Adj. Comr. Irwan Anwar said the police had
\nnot made any arrests in connection with the attack.<\/p>",
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