Bomb hoax spices up regent inanguration

Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Banjarnegara

A bomb hoax and a demonstration marred the induction of regent Djasri ST MM and his deputy Hadi Supena in Banjarnegara, Central Java, on Friday.

However, the ceremony led by Central Java deputy governor H. Ahmad, ran smoothly despite the demonstration by supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan), who were opposed to the induction of Djasri and Hadi.

Septi, an employee at the Banjarnegara regent's official residence reported to the police that she had received a phone call from a man, who said that a bomb would explode if Djasri was sworn in.

Seconds after Septi reported the call, scores of bomb-squad police officers were deployed to comb the area, but they did not find any explosives.

Aside from the bomb scare, hundreds of PDI-Perjuangan supporters marched to the ceremony site, demanding that Djasri's induction as regent be canceled.

They said that Djasri's election involved money politics.

The election of Djasri took place on April 12, 2001. Djasri, who was the candidate of a coalition of Islamic parties, garnered more votes than Mardjono, who was nominated by PDI- Perjuangan and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

Mardjono's defeat stunned his supporters as not all of the 17 PDI-Perjuangan faction members and the eight members of PKB faction at the legislative council voted for Mardjono.

Mardjono received only 13 votes, instead of the expected 25 of a total 45 votes. This enraged PDI-Perjuangan supporters. They said that money politics was behind the election and that Djasri's induction was unlawful.

A complaint about the alleged money politics has been filed with local police by members of PDI-Perjuangan.

Banjarnegara Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Winarno said that police would continue to investigate the allegations despite Djasri's induction.