Authorities in East Java brace for unrest
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)