Fatal clashes of party supporters widely deplored

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)