Violence mars PDI campaign<\/p>\n
By Ainur Sophiaan<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) first
\nday of campaigning here ended in disarray yesterday as about
\n5,000 loyalists of ousted party chief Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nstormed the arena.<\/p>\n
Several people sustained injuries from punches and flying
\nrocks during the scuffle. The police said no arrests were made in
\nthe brawl that security authorities quickly brought under
\ncontrol.<\/p>\n
The incident happened only minutes before campaigner Budi
\nHardjono, a senior PDI politician under the government-backed
\nSoerjadi leadership, was due to appear on the podium in Bungkul
\nPark at about 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi unseated Megawati in a government-backed rebel
\ncongress last year. The government has barred Megawati from
\nrunning in the election.<\/p>\n
The one-hectare park was filled with the lively popular folk
\nmusic dangdut when Megawati supporters in buses, trucks and on
\nmotorcycles streamed into the lightly guarded site.<\/p>\n
The dangdut singer had just finished the last line of her hit
\nAnggur Merah (Red Wine) ... how could you hurt me like that...
\nwhen a Megawati supporter jumped onto the stage. The man snatched
\nthe microphone from the singer and repeatedly shouted,
\n\"Campaigning without Megawati? No way.\"<\/p>\n
Other supporters shouted, \"Right. Viva Megawati.\" The trouble
\nbegan when Sabrot Malioboro, a local pro-Soerjadi PDI leader,
\njumped onto the stage and tried to grab the microphone from the
\nman.<\/p>\n
People on the dance floor hurled stones at the stage. Pro-
\nSoerjadi security taskforce members were met with punches when
\nthey tried to stop the mob.<\/p>\n
Many pro-Soerjadi activists crossed to the Megawati camp
\nyesterday, shouting \"Long live Megawati\".<\/p>\n
Activists of the two camps rejoiced until about 300 security
\nofficers equipped with riot gear and armored vehicles arrived to
\ndisperse the party.<\/p>\n
The crowd peacefully dispersed, continuing to yell pro-
\nMegawati and anti-Soerjadi slogans.<\/p>\n
Surabaya military chief Col. Syamsul Maarif, who arrived after
\nthe park was deserted and the stage in rubble, deplored the raid
\non the campaign by Megawati supporters.<\/p>\n
\"All this only supported our belief that some irresponsible
\npeople mean to sabotage the general election,\" he told
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
He refused to comment on accusations that security authorities
\nhad failed to anticipate the incident, saying that security was
\nchiefly the responsibility of each party.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, campaigns by the United Development Party (PPP) and
\nGolkar proceeded without incident.<\/p>\n
The PPP, fielding its senior politicians Zain Badjeber, Alawy
\nMuhammad and Hamzah Haz criticized the widespread corruption and
\ncollusion in the government as well as social injustices.<\/p>\n
In the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin, Zain said
\ncorrupt practices are difficult to solve under the current laws.<\/p>\n
In a speech aired by state-owned television station TVRI, PPP
\nChairman Ismail H. Metareum said his party would ensure that
\njustice is for all, not just the privileged.<\/p>\n
Metareum is scheduled to address his supporters in Surabaya
\nand Pasuruan, East Java, today.<\/p>\n
Golkar chief Harmoko and popular dangdut singer Rhoma Irama
\ndrew huge crowds in Aceh and the North Sumatran capital, Medan.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said Golkar was committed to creating employment and
\nreducing poverty.<\/p>\n
Rhoma, whose shift of political allegiance from PPP to Golkar
\nhas angered many PPP Central Java activists, told supporters in
\nthe predominantly Moslem Aceh province that Golkar is
\nincreasingly adopting Islamic values.<\/p>\n
More stories on Page 2<\/p>\n
Students -- Page 3<\/p>\n
Democracy -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/violence-mars-pdi-campaign-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }