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)