Golkar complains about stone-pelting incident
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Saturday that his party would lodge a complaint with the General Elections Commission and the Elections Supervisory Committee following acts of stone-pelting against Golkar executives in Central Java.
Hundreds of Golkar supporters in the town of Purbalingga were harassed on Friday by hundreds of other people clad in the party emblem of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) under Megawati Soekarnoputri, but executives of the latter party denied links with the mob.
Akbar, who is also the minister/state secretary, was trapped in the melee -- but emerged unhurt.
As quoted by Antara in West Sumatra's Batusangkar town hours after the incident, Akbar lashed out saying the attack was "inhumane and antidemocratic".
"Golkar is not afraid of them. (But) Golkar won't retaliate the rude treatment," Akbar said.
Golkar's Central Java chapter's secretary, Soetoyo Abadi, said 10 people sustained slight injuries from stones thrown by the mob. A pickup belonging to Golkar was vandalized and set ablaze while two others were vandalized.
The mobs also vandalized a stage prepared for Golkar's gathering in the town's Wasesa soccer field, removed Golkar's emblems and halted Golkar supporters on their way to the field and forced male and female supporters to take off their Golkar uniforms. Party emblems were then set on fire.
Joint police-military security forces -- led by Purbalingga deputy police chief Maj. Sugito -- which escorted Akbar did nothing to stop the violence, reports said on Saturday.
"They pelted us and burned a car. Why were they not arrested?" Akbar asked Sugito shortly after the incident, reported Kompas. Reports said no one was arrested on Friday.
The melee caused Golkar to move its gathering to a local legislature office, where Akbar gave a speech calling for supporters to stay cool over the incident.
In Semarang, PDI Perjuangan's Central Java chapter's chairman, Soeratal, said he could not confirm that the mob was actually from his party. Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has preached repeatedly against violence.
"They could have been clad in PDI Perjuangan's emblem, but they were not necessarily PDI Perjuangan supporters," Soeratal insisted. It is as yet unclear if they could produce their party membership cards, he added.
Long before election campaigns slated to start on May 19 through June 4, many have expressed fears of violence.
Friday's incident was just one of several involving supporters of other parties. Golkar's Central Java chapter has also reported to police the vandalizing of hundreds of party symbols.
On Saturday in Rembang, about 100 people identified as supporters of the National Awakening Party (PKB) about to follow the party's declaration, were also pelted with stones by people believed to be local residents.
Ten PKB supporters sustained injuries. PKB founder Cholil Bisri urged members and supporters to refrain from seeking revenge.
On Saturday, Central Java's Military Chief Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo urged leaders of political parties to control their supporters.
"Let's face our elections with a democratic heart, ready to accept a party's victory, but also ready to take defeat wholeheartedly," he said.
In Jakarta on Saturday, the General Elections Commission's chairman, Rudini, reminded party leaders of possible party disqualification from campaigning in a certain electoral district if leaders of the party in the area were considered to have failed to control their members.
"The sanctions are clearly stipulated in the campaign's code of conduct," the former minister of home affairs said. (aan/har/edt)