An election campaign marred by violence and neglect

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The campaign's curtain has been raised to reveal brutal fighting between the parties' supporters, and at center stage is the fear of greater violence.

Clashes in Yogyakarta and cities in Central and East Java before and during the campaign have shown the potential for further violence. Even the gatherings in Yogyakarta in March and April between Golkar leader Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and party supporters ended in clashes with the other parties' supporters.

After one the gatherings, members of Golkar's Cakra special force, mostly former military personnel, armed with knifes and stones attacked Kauman-Pakualaman village, a stronghold of the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP).

Several shops, food stalls, cars, motorcycles and other property belonging to innocent people were vandalized.

The attack was allegedly Golkar supporters' revenge for the fatal stabbing of their peers, Wandi, 20, and Suprapto, 30, allegedly by PPP supporters.

PPP supporter Arief, who witnessed the attack, said the assault on Kauman-Pakualaman "looked planned because the Cakra members were assisted by local security personnel".

"They went on a rampage. They hit everyone in sight," Arief said. "One military member threatened to burn down the village. More than ten innocent people, including four fruit vendors, a domestic helper, a shopper and a reporter for Suara Muhammadiyah magazine were arrested."

The attack prompted the PPP to seek legal action and threaten to boycott the campaign.

In Pekalongan, a PPP stronghold in Central Java, there have been several clashes between PPP supporters and Golkar supporters leaving a trail of injury and destruction.

The authorities first blamed the violence in Pekalongan on an influential ulema, Afifuddin Mustari. They said his sermons had stirred up young PPP supporters. The young ulema, an ardent PPP supporter, is being tried for instigating violence which can put him in jail for up to six years.

Several PPP youths have received prison sentences from three days to four months for the violence in Pekalongan.

The PPP Central Java chapter's chairman, Karmani, has deplored the sentences. "This is strange. Witnesses said the brawls took place because Golkar supporters started it all, but our supporters, who were indeed provoked, were the ones punished."

Spontaneous act

In Temanggung, Central Java, PPP and Golkar supporters clashed brutally in April. Dozens of people were injured in a hail of stones, and others were stabbed.

Four people, including one Golkar activist, ended up in hospital with broken arms or legs, or concussion.

"This brawl was a spontaneous act between supporters of the two political contestants. Besides, this is a political problem. Which was why I dared to move," said Temanggung police chief Lt. Col. Herry Haryanto.

The Golkar Temanggung branch's chief, Inang, blamed PPP supporters for the fight. "They incited us. Every time Golkar held an activity, the PPP crowd would disturb us. They vandalized things, including shops whose owners were helped by Golkar," he said.

Local PPP leader M. Imron returned the accusation, "There were victims because of what Golkar did. They are so arrogant. They have been terrorizing the people here, who are mostly PPP supporters.

"Now that victims fall one by one, it's always the PPP that is blamed," he said. "Golkar is trying to attract people by discrediting us."

There was more violence in Banjarnegara, Central Java, last month when about 1,000 PPP supporters rode in convoy from Wonosobo, pelting stones at houses along the way and beating police officers. They pulled down Golkar banners and flags, and turned over two police cars.

PPP Wonosobo branch secretary, T.E. Purwanto, denied the involvement of local supporters. "That couldn't have been done by our supporters. There were external elements mingling with our people creating unrest to ruin the party's image."

More violence occurred in Surabaya, East Java, in late April when the Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) rally on the first day of campaigning was broken up by 5,000 loyalists of the party's ousted chief, Megawati Soekarnoputri. The loyalists stormed the outdoor venue injuring people with flying stones and punches.

But who is responsible for the violence and the victims?

The authorities have not helped any of the victims, or their relatives, and party leaders seem equally indifferent. Politicians have only made noises of protest about rival parties.

Syukri Fadholi of the PPP Yogyakarta chapter wrote a letter to the Diponegoro regional military commander, Maj. Gen. Subagyo H.S., to protest the Golkar attack on Kauman-Pakualaman village.

"That's the most we can do. And if the security personnel discriminate against us (by assisting Golkar), then we can only tell our members not to campaign," he said.

It is obvious that party leaders have planned little to support the victims, who must now help themselves.

"I can only try to be patient. What else can I do? I don't know where to ask for compensation or who to sue," said Setiawan, a 42-year-old resident of Kricak, Yogyakarta, whose bicycle was destroyed in a PDI rally.

Lawyers

A group of local lawyers believes that something must be done. Last month, they established the Commission for Legal and Human Rights for Victims of the Election (KUAAP) to defend the victims' rights.

The Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute has hired about 100 lawyers and assistants to work for the commission.

Budi Santosa of the institute said, "No matter who is hurt by the campaign, we'll give them legal assistance. This commission is set up only with the aim to help prevent arbitrary actions."

Several top lawyers in Yogyakarta have also started working for the campaign victims in the Advocacy Team for Victims of the Election (TAKEP).

One of the team's founders, Darwis Purba, said: "There have been too many victims and for nothing. Too many innocent people have fallen prey to the parties' brutality.

"Those contestants should be held responsible. The party leaders should be held accountable for their supporters' misbehavior."

Darwis and his colleagues have promised that legal action will be taken against security personnel who treat supporters with undue violence. Darwis said the security personnel involved in the Golkar attack on Kauman-Pakualaman village would be held accountable.

But how effective will their legal campaign be?

Senior lawyer Jeremias Lemek is pessimistic. "It would be very difficult to prove legal misdeeds in this complicated election campaign. It will require hard work," he said. "Will the lawyers be willing to work that hard?" (38)