Clashes mar campaigns in several areas

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party's (PPP) last round of campaigning in West Nusa Tenggara, where chairman Hamzah Haz campaigned on Friday, was marred by a clash in which at least four were injured and two vehicles were damaged.

It was the only recorded violent incident in the province during the campaign season since May 19.

Two PPP supporters and two residents of Monjok subdistrict were admitted to the Mataram General Hospital following the clash between residents and PPP supporters.

The injured PPP supporters, Makmur and M. Saat, sustained hand and head slash wounds, respectively, while the residents, Budiarsa and N. Sudiartha, sustained wounds to their hands from flying stones.

Witnesses told The Jakarta Post that the clash began when a number of trucks carrying PPP supporters heading for the campaign site in West Lombok began tearing up flags of PDI Perjuangan and the Indonesian National Party led by Supeni (PNI-Supeni) when passing Monjok.

Youngsters in the area shouted against the vandalism and pelted the PPP supporters with stones. Some of the trucks stopped and the supporters jumped down and chased the youngsters. Residents and PPP coordinators managed to stop the fray.

The PPP supporters left the scene after insulting the Monjok residents, who are mostly Balinese Hindu, and pelted a worship site.

Residents immediately sounded alarm signals through wooden gongs and other residents came out of their homes with sharp weapons and attacked the PPP supporters, leading to the injuries and damage to a Kijang pickup and a truck. Troops were rushed to the scene and prevented further violence.

Also on Friday, dozens of PDI Perjuangan supporters were pelted by unidentified people when passing the Tanon district in Sragen regency, Central Java, injuring three of them. They did not fight back, the head of the party branch, Basuki, said.

In Wonogiri regency in Purwantoro district, Golkar supporters were also pelted by unknown people, injuring three and damaging one motorcycle.

Central Java Golkar secretary Sutoyo Abadi told the Post his supporters were also pelted by unknown people in Batang regency. "Unfortunately the attackers also wore Golkar attributes," Sutoyo said.

"They destroyed the stage, two vehicles and two motorcycles and slightly injured four Golkar security guards," he said, adding the case had been reported to police.

Late on Thursday, the last campaign of PPP in Wonosobo, Central Java, also witnessed a clash of thousands of supporters with those of the National Awakening Party (PKB). As of Friday dozens of soldiers and police were still guarding several areas.

Twelve people were injured and three cars and five motorcycles were damaged.

The PKB's Central Java secretary, Abdul Kadir, said on Friday that the clash was "provoked" by PPP supporters who had vandalized PKB flags in the Binangun area. Residents who were PKB supporters then threw stones at the PPP supporters.

Also on Thursday night, three PKB supporters sustained slash wounds in a clash with PPP supporters in Kudus, Central Java. Police confiscated 30 swords from PPP supporters and arrested five alleged provocateurs, police chief Lt. Col. Bambang Purnomosidi said.

Meanwhile, Antara reported that clashes in the three rounds of campaigning in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, have led to one death, three people in comas and eight still undergoing hospital treatment.

On Tuesday, PDI Perjuangan supporters clashed with students of the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) after the party supporters tore down banners that used Muslim teachings to oppose the leadership of women.

The party sees the gender issue as belittling the presidential aspirations of its chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri. PDI Perjuangan executives conveyed apologies to the South Sulawesi community for the damage, victims of the clash and "the fear (among residents) intentionally created by certain groups", the agency reported.

PDI Perjuangan is investigating the case, according to Antara.

A separate clash involved supporters of PDI Perjuangan and the National Mandate Party, against supporters of the Golkar party, who had earlier pelted their offices with rocks. (49/har/45)