Jepara still tense as residents fear retaliation flee
Jepara still tense as residents fear retaliation flee
SEMARANG (JP): The Central Java town of Jepara remained tense
on Monday and a number of people fled to neighboring cities
following the bloody clash between supporters of two Muslim-based
parties that killed four last Friday.
Resident supporters of the two parties -- the United
Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) --
patrolled their neighborhoods armed with bamboo spears and
knives. They were concentrated around party posts in Dongos
village, fearing new clashes.
Rumors spread that supporters of PKB wanted to take revenge
for the deaths of their colleagues, prompting some people, mainly
elderly people and children, to seek shelter in other cities.
"We decided to flee to our family's home in Semarang because
of the terrifying situation in the village. Many people,
especially youths, are still talking about retaliation. It will
be better for us to move to a safer area," said Bawono, 46, a
resident of Dongos.
More than 200 riot police and 100 Army personnel have been
deployed since last Friday in the village, in anticipation of
further riots.
"The security personnel will be pulled out only if the
situation returns to normal. We don't want to have villagers
becoming victims of clashes among parties," Central Java Police
Chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi said here on Monday.
He said police were questioning six people who are believed to
have orchestrated the violence.
At least four people were killed, dozens were hospitalized and
15 houses and five cars were burned out. Fourteen people are
still missing since the incident.
The violence occurred when hundreds of PPP supporters launched
an attack on several dozen PKB supporters attending the induction
ceremony of the local party executive in the village. The PPP
claims the village is PKB's stronghold in the regency.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the General Elections Commission
(KPU), Rudini, said on Monday in Jakarta the KPU would hold a
meeting with party leaders this week to help minimize clashes
among their supporters before and during the campaign period from
May 19 through June 4.
"We call on parties for restraint. Such conflicts may disrupt
the poll process," Rudini said, adding that he thought there was
a need to establish additional regulations to prevent violence.
Djuhad Mahja of PPP called on the leaders of the two parties
not to issue statements which could upset anyone. "That will make
things worse," he said.
However, Yahya C. Stacuf of PKB said he was pessimistic that
conflicts could be stopped at the grassroots level. "It is hard
to control them," he said.
Separately, chairman of the Muhammadiyah youth wing,
Nadjamuddin Ramly, condemned the violence. "Look at how Muslims
have started to slaughter each other even before campaigning
begins," he said after meeting with President B.J. Habibie.
He also said his organization would arrange a meeting with all
political parties on May 15, and Habibie is expected to open the
gathering in Jakarta.
Competition
In Yogyakarta, political observer Riswandha Imawan said the
clash between PPP and PKB was sparked by competition between the
two parties for support from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) followers.
The lecturer at the Gadjah Mada University's School of Social
and Political Sciences said: "The clash was not about ideology,
but something even more concrete, namely the competition for
support."
"The PPP and PKB in Jepara are also competing for the support
of kyai (Muslim clerics)," he said.
He said competition was even more marked after PPP approached
other parties linked to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), such as the
Nahdlatul Ulama Party (PNU) and the Ummat Awakening Party (PKU).
"In order to reduce the conflict, NU chairman Gus Dur
(Abdurrahman Wahid) should affirm the organization's neutrality,
and that it is not affiliating itself to any parties," Riswandha
suggested.
"The easiest solution to this conflict between PPP and PKB is
for Gus Dur to say that Nahdlatul Ulama is neutral, that only he
himself personally supports PKB, and that other Nahdlatul Ulama
followers are free to vote for any parties," Riswandha said.
Meanwhile, Antara reported that the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle's chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri, would
meet party supporters in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, on May 11.
In another separate development in Yogyakarta, the local
elections committee was urged on Monday to ban the three older
parties of Golkar, PPP and the Indonesian Democratic Party from
using state facilities for their campaign activities.
The demand was voiced by PKB, the National Mandate Party
(PAN), the Justice Party, the Muslim Community Party and the
Marhaen Indonesian National Party.
"There are 48 parties, but why are only three given the
facilities? That's unfair," PKB's Semarang chapter deputy
chairman Nur Jihad said.
Meanwhile, in Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi, the chairman of the
Indonesian Students Association (Himpi), Aminullah, criticized
Golkar for replacing popular candidate Andi Safiuddin Makka with
the lesser known Ulla Nachrowi Usman.
"This might be Golkar's internal problem, but as it concerns
Pare-Pare's public interests, naturally, we protest," he said.
In Maros, also in South Sulawesi, the replacement of another
popular candidate was also reported. A religious group supporting
Andi Jaya Sose lamented his substitution with another candidate.
The group, calling itself Tajul Khalwatiah Syech Yusuf
Turikale Maros, claimed their candidate represented the locals'
aspirations better than the new candidate. (27/28/43/44/45/har
/nur/edt/rms)