Dozens injured in clashes after PPP gatherings in Central Java
Dozens injured in clashes after PPP gatherings in Central Java
PEKALONGAN, Central Java (JP): Dozens of people were injured
in two clashes between supporters of the United Development Party
(PPP) and hundreds of unidentified people.
There are several versions of the brawls, which police say did
not happen.
The first fight happened in Kajen regency, about 25 kilometers
south of here. A motorcade of about 100 PPP supporters traveling
home from a rally in nearby Asinan village was reportedly
attacked by a mob in front of a Golkar office.
Ali Imron of the PPP Pekalongan branch said 20 supporters were
beaten with iron sticks and wooden clubs. Some had their bones
broken.
"We deplore the security personnel who only stood by watching
the incident," he told The Jakarta Post.
An officer on duty at the Pekalongan police precinct denied
the incident.
Imron said the fight began after local police and soldiers
told the people of Asinan, Kandang Serang district, not to attend
the PPP rally.
He said that, because the villagers were too afraid to attend
the rally, the local PPP campaign committee decided to summon
supporters from the nearby villages of Buaran, Kedung Wuni and
Wonopringgo.
He said that, after the supporters returned from the rally, a
mob waiting in front of the Golkar office attacked. "It's very
likely that the mob were Golkar supporters," Ali said, adding
that the supporters had no choice but to defend themselves.
The other incident in Pekalongan involved a convoy of PPP
supporters who were pelted with stones by dozens of unidentified
men on Jl. Bina Griya.
Zurkoni of the local PPP branch said that "dozens of residents
armed with sickles and swords" were waiting for the PPP convoy.
"We chose to flee," Zurkoni said, adding that two PPP
supporters were injured when they fell off their motorcycle.
The police officer contacted by the Post said that PPP
supporters had begun the incident by throwing stones at homes in
the Bina Griya housing complex. Most of the complex's residents
are Golkar members.
The officer said no one was injured and that the PPP
supporters had been briefly detained for questioning.
Thousands of supporters attended the PPP rally in the town, a
PPP stronghold where several political riots have occurred in
recent few months. Last Wednesday, there was a fight between
Golkar and PPP supporters which left eight injured.
The regional military spokesman, Lt. Col. Sugeng Suryanto,
said five people had been arrested over the fight. (har/aan)