Golkar complains about stone-pelting incident
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)