Central Java towns calm, but tense after riots
SEMARANG (JP): A number of shops remained closed yesterday in several Central Java towns following an outburst of political riots earlier this week.
Shop owners and residents feared repeated violence and vandalism that had left a number of premises damaged Wednesday. But the military declared yesterday that the situation had returned to normal.
"Activities in the cities of Wonosobo and Banjarnegara, which were attacked by violence Wednesday, returned to normal (yesterday)," said Chief of the Banyumas Regional Police Col. Binarto, who supervises the regencies of Wonosobo and Banjarnegara.
"Seven people have been arrested. They are now in police custody," Binarto said.
The Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP) has been celebrating its 24th anniversary in many Central Java regencies. Supporters used the occasion to hold street rallies and convoys, which led to clashes with supporters of other political contestants in several cases.
A total of five towns -- Pekalongan, Rembang, Temanggung, Wonosobo and Banjarnegara -- have been affected by the riot. Tension, however, also gripped other towns such as Pati, Kudus, Salatiga and Magelang.
The violence in Wonosobo, 120 kilometers southwest of the provincial capital of Semarang, started when hundreds of PPP supporters removed banners and posters of dominant Golkar on their way home after attending a celebration.
The Golkar supporters retaliated, and the two groups became involved in a clash, leaving three local residents wounded and hospitalized.
Several village halls, dozens of houses and shops were destroyed. Newspapers reported that one house of worship was also damaged.
The rioters continued their rampage in the neighboring Banjarnegara regency, some ten kilometers away. Here, their attempt to create further unrest was foiled by security officials.
The towns of Pati and Kudus were gripped by fear because the PPP supporters were also scheduled to hold celebrations there, and shop owners chose to close.
"Shops in Kudus were closed from Wednesday until (yesterday) morning, because the owners were scared of similar violence which had earlier attacked Pekalongan and Temanggung," Hendarsah, a textile shop owner in Wonosobo, said yesterday.
However, the PPP rallies along the streets of Kudus and Pati Wednesday proceeded in an orderly manner. No violence was reported.
In Wonosobo and Banjarnegara, district leaders decided to cancel some planned activities citing security reasons.
Angry mob
The riot erupted in Pekalongan early Tuesday when an angry mob of hundreds of people, believed to be PPP supporters, attacked the housing complex of local government officials.
The riot, the fourth to hit the batik coastal town since late March, caused minor damage. Eight rioters were arrested.
The politically-motivated violence broke out after PPP supporters returned home from a lecture led by four distinguished Islamic religious figures, including KH Afifuddin Musytari.
The unrest in Pekalongan, 300 kilometers east of Jakarta, first broke out on March 26 and was said to be sparked by pop singer Rhoma Irama's change of party allegiance from PPP to Golkar and the replacement of PPP banners with Golkar's in the town.
Thirty people have been sentenced to jail from three days to three months for their involvement in the March 26 riot.
Earlier Monday, violence hit the tobacco-producing town of Temanggung, some 65 kilometers south of Semarang, when PPP supporters clashed with those of dominant Golkar at Ngimbrang village.
Seven motorcycles, one car and one house were damaged during the riot, while eight people were wounded, sources said. (har/wah/imn)