Authorities in East Java brace for unrest

SURABAYA (JP): East Java authorities have stepped up precaution measures in anticipation of possible unrest resulting from the heightened tension between members of political elite in Jakarta.

Governor Imam Utomo called a crisis meeting with Brawijaya Military commander Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, provincial police chief Insp. Gen. Sutanto and provincial legislative council speaker Bisjri Abdul Djalil on Saturday due to the worsening political climate.

"We agreed to call on all local politicians to calm their supporters and avoid provocative moves despite the political dispute in Jakarta. Never let East Java become another battlefield of political elite," Imam said.

East Java is the stronghold of President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is facing an imminent impeachment process despite his last- ditch offer for a compromise with his contenders.

A series of violence, albeit minor, have occurred in the province, marking the run-up to the House of Representatives plenary session on Wednesday that almost certain to result in a call for a People's Consultative Assembly special session to impeach the President.

Chairman of Sidoarjo branch of National Mandate Party (PAN) Agus Salam was the latest to fall victim to the violence on Saturday when a group of unidentified people tossed firecrackers into his house, causing serious damage to the building. No fatality was reported as Agus and his family were going out when the raid took place.

The attack came just a day after provincial police chief Sutanto declared a top alert level across East Java.

Dozens of people attacked the house of head of PAN's Situbondo branch on Wednesday and ransacked and burned more houses belonging to the party's activists in the neighboring town of Bondowoso a week before.

Sutanto said on Saturday the intelligence police have found in Situbondo and Besuki pamphlets carrying a writing of threat directed at politicians from PAN, Golkar Party, Crescent Star Party and United Development Party. The parties, along with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, are united in calling for an impeachment of the President.

"Whatever the reason behind the terror, we will take strict measures against those who wish to perpetrate violence," Sutanto said.

He said a total of 15,000 police, military personnel and political party security guards had been deployed to riot-prone areas.

Earlier in the day, Sutanto met with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim clerics led by their chairman Hasyim Muzadi to discuss the current security crisis.

Hasyim appealed to security authorities to look for the roots of the tension in East Java.

"People in the grassroots are basically not aggressive-minded. They are prone to venting their anger in response to or in retaliation of moves by their political rivals. We have to dispose of the sources of their anger," Hasyim said.

Abdurrahman supporters have also threatened to establish an independent country in East Java if the President, who once chaired NU, is impeached. But Governor Imam lashed out at the move, saying it was a waste of energy and lacked both legal and logical grounds.

Despite the call for calm, some 10,000 former members of death squad have reportedly reunited and planned a return to Jakarta this week to defend the embattled President.

Coordinator of Pagar Nusa pencak silat martial law school Fathurrozi confirmed the move and said the death squad would come from Jember, Banyuwangi, Probolinggo and Pasuruan.

"Although we have already been disbanded, we are still loyal to our leaders," Fathurrozi said.

The death squad was dismissed just in time before the House members convened in Jakarta to issue the second motion of censure against the President late in April.

Terror

Despite of the higher security alert, a stronghold of Abdurrahman, terror on local political leaders flared up again in several areas in the province over the weekend.

In the early hours of Sunday, local chairman of the Muhammdiyah Gresik chapter Ismail was stopped by an unknown group of people when he was riding his motorcycle.

The people took his motorbike but did not hurt Ismail. The motorcycle was burned. Ismail said he could not identify the people.

Separately in Bondowoso an unidentified group pelted firecrackers to five houses belonging to local PAN executives. The attacks were also done in the early hours of Sunday.

Previously on Saturday, firecrackers were thrown on the residence of Agus Salam, the deputy chairman of PAN's Sidoarjo chapter.

The incident, at around 3:00 a.m., caused damages to the front glass window of the house and shattered the car's side window.

Police are reportedly investigating the incidents.

Meanwhile in Banyuwangi, four name plates of the Nahdlatul Ulama offices in Tapanrejo, Blambangan and in Kedungrejo -- all in Muncar district -- were destroyed by unknown people. The action was believed to be taken at around 1:00 a.m.

Meanwhile in Blambangan and Kedungrejo, houses belonging to PAN and Golkar Party supporters were given "X" red markings.

Banyuwangi Police chief Adj. Comr. Anton Priyadi confirmed the recent violence and terror in the area and said that additional personnel were being brought in.

"Frankly speaking, this terror act is causing a headache for police as so far we don't have any witnesses who saw what happened. We find it difficult to filter the possible perpetrators. Besides, we're puzzeled why NU's names plates were damaged in the organization's stronghold," he told reporters on Sunday.

Anton said he has asked 200 police personnel from Bali to safeguard the Ketapang port which connects East Java with Bali in anticipation of mass protests.

The angry supporters of President Abdurrahman blocked the port to vent their disappointment when the House of Representative first censured Abdurrahman in February.

On Sunday, hundreds of Abdurrahman's supporters also held a massive prayers in three different districts of Muncar, Genteng and Glenmore. (nur)