Clashes mar campaigns in several areas

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)