Fatal clashes of party supporters widely deplored
JAKARTA (JP): Friday's clash involving supporters of political parties in the Central Java town of Jepara, in which four people were killed, was widely deplored on Sunday as campaign-related violence in the province continued.
The Jepara village of Dongos in Kedung district, Central Java, remained tense on Sunday following the violence. Over 400 police, backed by the military, were on alert to guard the surrounding areas.
Friday's brawl involving two Muslim-based parties -- the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) -- also left at least 12 people injured and damaged properties.
On Sunday, statements lamenting the violence came from the University Network for Free and Fair Elections (Unfrel), the Independent Committee for General Elections Monitoring (KIPP) and some observers.
"We urge all political party leaders to restrain themselves and to control their supporters from committing violence," Unfrel said in its statement.
KIPP secretary-general Mulyana W. Kusumah was quoted by Antara as saying: "Party leaders both at national and local levels must take concrete steps to avoid their supporters clashing with other party supporters."
"Election-related violations, including clashes among the party supporters, indicates that the parties are not yet mature enough for democracy," political observer Syarief Makhya of Lampung University was reported as saying by the news agency.
In Semarang, the capital of Central Java, provincial PKB's deputy chairman Ircham A.R. urged on Sunday all of its local branches to tone down their activities in order to avoid more violence. Chief of the chapter Noer Iskandar al-Barsany said he had sent a team to investigate the incident to Jepara.
In Yogyakarta, chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais suggested that leaders of both PKB and PPP resolve to a peace agreement to prevent their grassroots supporters from clashing again.
"If they (the leaders) appear on TV hugging each other and shaking hands, the effect will be positive. But if they turn a blind eye to the incident, the hostility will intensify," Amien said.
In Jakarta, the national General Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslakpus) -- an official poll watchdog which is entitled to sanction errant parties, said the probe into the clash rested with its officials in Central Java.
Fresh violence
The calls came amid reports of fresh violence between supporters of the two Muslim-based parties in the regencies of Demak and Pekalongan on Saturday.
No fatalities were reported in the two incidents.
In Pekalongan, violence occurred in Pesantunan village of Buaran district, when rallying PKB supporters were stoned by PPP supporters, according to local police.
Five PKB supporters were injured, one of their cars was set on fire and 10 houses damaged, Pekalongan Police chief Lt. Col. Ismu Haryono said.
Ismu said PKB should have known that the coastal town was PPP's traditional stronghold. He urged leaders of both parties to control their supporters.
In Demak, 11 people were injured and 25 houses ransacked after Babalan villagers in Wedung district attacked Kedungmutih villagers. The assault followed rumors that the head of PPP's Babalan branch was killed by Kedungmutih villagers.
Demak Police chief Lt. Col. Tampubolon said on Sunday that the incident was a personal dispute rather than a political one.
Other violence on Sunday was reported from Cilacap, when Golkar supporters were attacked by an unidentified group while on route to Gumilir Stadium to attend a party function which featured party chairman Akbar Tandjung.
At least seven were injured.
One of the victims, Supriyadi, 22, said their attackers numbered around 20. They pelted stones at the truck he was traveling in and then escaped, he said.
"They wore no particular party outfits so I don't know who they were," he told The Jakarta Post
Akbar visited the victims at Fatimah Hospital and expressed sympathy and regret over the incident.
"I wonder why every time I visit an area something terrible always happens," Akbar complained. Besides Cilacap, Akbar and his entourage also toured Purworejo, Kebumen and Purwokerto over the weekend.
"This is not a campaign rally, it's just a core gathering. In campaigns, outsiders will be among the audience," Akbar told the Post after addressing the crowd. (har/45/23/aan)