An election campaign marred by violence and neglect

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)