Elections body probes attack on Golkar supporters

JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) will soon summon executives of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party in relation to last week's incident in which Golkar supporters and executives were pelted with stones.

Speaking in Yogyakarta, commission member Adi Andojo said the commission was to summon both parties for clarification of the incident.

Rather than denying that those involved in the attack were members of PDI Perjuangan, the party, he said, "should deliver evidence that their supporters were not involved."

In Jakarta, commission chairman Rudini said he would ask the Supreme Court whether the commission had full authorization to deliver sanctions to parties that failed to check their supporters.

The sanctions, over which the commission must consult with the Supervisory Election Committee, are in the code of conduct for campaigns issued by the commission, but Rudini said party functions that lead to clashes well before the campaign period raised the "moral responsibility" of the commission to act to prevent further clashes.

Campaigns are slated for May 19 to June 4.

"Morally KPU (the commission) has a responsibility to take care of any problems because we are comprised of representatives of all 48 parties," he said.

"I have sent letters to urge all political parties not to 'steal' the start by performing various early campaigns such as cadre gatherings, party birthday meetings or any other form of rallies... as all of these are prone to instigate unrest."

Several parties have conducted functions with huge crowds, raising fears of clashes at the function site or along roads. One person died in Yogyakarta in one such clash.

Also in Jakarta, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid and Minister of Justice Muladi said if the people who pelted Golkar personnel with stones proved to be supporters of PDI Perjuangan, the party should be held responsible.

"PDI Perjuangan leaders must take responsibility and not just try to find an excuse," Syarwan said after attending a ministerial meeting to discuss the incident.

The meeting was headed by Coordinator Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung.

Adnan Buyung Nasution, a KPU member, said that Megawati's supporters were still upset over the tragedy and they believed Golkar was not an innocent party in the incident.

Last week, the car of Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung was also pelted in Purbalingga, Central Java, when the party held a mass gathering there. Several supporters were also harassed.

Akbar blasted security personnel for doing nothing to stop the violence. Police said they had named four suspects, while the deputy of the local chapter of PDI Perjuangan, Bambang Gumono, resigned out of shame.

Meanwhile two separate clashes involving the National Awakening Party, the United Development Party and the National Mandate Party erupted in Pekalongan and Klaten, Central Java.

Six were injured in Pekalongan and another eight were hurt in Klaten.

In Surabaya, two rival groups of PDI Perjuangan were involved in a clash. A group of 30 people headed by former party chairwoman Aritonang allegedly ambushed the conference of the Surabaya PDI Perjuangan branch and injured at least one of their opponents.

The chairman of the East Java chapter, Sutjipto, described Aritonang's supporters as an irresponsible group who wanted to foil the conference. Meanwhile, hundreds of the party supporters took to the streets and removed Golkar flags from the main streets.

In Yogyakarta political scholar J. Kristiadi said violence could continue given the use of "primordial symbols" and reliance on popular people by political parties. This condition is worsened by the incapability of the security personnel, he said.

Separately, the chairman of the Armed Forces Veterans Association (Pepabri) Gen. (ret.) Try Sutrisno, a former executive of Golkar, was officially accepted as a member of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) on Monday. (har/44/edt/45/prb)