Leader says parties culpable for violence

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Party leaders should be held responsible for any clashes or violence involving their supporters, Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono X said on Tuesday.

He was commenting on the latest scuffle between supporters of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the United Development Party (PPP) on Sunday. One man was stabbed to death and five others seriously wounded.

"Why did this happen only a couple of weeks after the party leaders pledged to maintain peace in Yogyakarta? I will demand their responsibility for the incident," Hamengkubuwono said.

PDI Perjuangan sympathizer Budi Purnomo died on Monday at Panti Rapih Catholic Hospital. He was buried later in the day. No suspects have been apprehended.

Sunday's clash occurred when the two groups of rival party supporters met on Jl. Ahmad Dahlan, long considered a PPP stronghold.

Two people were injured, and two motorcycles plus a neighborhood post belonging to PDI Perjuangan were set on fire in another violent incident also involving followers of the two parties in Kulon Progo regency, west of here.

On March 21, a PDI Perjuangan supporter, Eko Prabowo, was also killed during an altercation with PPP supporters when the two groups met on the way to their respective party functions.

The fatality inspired local leaders of the parties contesting the polls in the province to sign a joint peace accord, known as the Malioboro Declaration, a week later. Hamengkubuwono and local military and police chiefs witnessed the signing.

"Two (fatalities) are more than enough. There must be no more clashes," Hamengkubuwono said on Tuesday. He added it was now for time for party leaders to realize their promises.

In a related development, chief of the Yogyakarta police detectives unit Lt. Col. Yotje Mende announced the arrest of three PPP supporters, identified as Wid, Icap and Bud, for possession of explosives and sharp weapons.

Yotje said the suspects were apprehended on Monday following an intensive operation to search houses of party activists following Sunday's clashes.

In Pekalongan, Central Java, People's Awakening Party (PKB) and PPP supporters fought on Tuesday, the second clash between them in as many days. The two days of scuffle left six people injured and 40 houses damaged.

No arrests were made by local police called to disperse the brawling crowds.

Police chief Lt. Col. Ismu Haryomo was quoted by Antara as saying the violence flared up after an incident on Saturday in which a number of PPP supporters lowered PKB flags.

Also on Tuesday, a PPP official reported to the Surakarta Police a Sunday afternoon attack allegedly committed by National Mandate Party (PAN) followers against PPP counterparts in Bekonang district in Sukoharjo, Central Java.

In Jakarta, three Muslim-based parties, the United Development Party (PPP), Nahdlatul Ummat Party (PNU) and the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU), lashed out against Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) for its allegedly discriminative policy. The parties accused NU of driving the organization's members to vote for the PKB, which was founded by NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid.

NU, considered the country's largest Muslim organization with some 30 million supporters, has repeatedly stated its neutrality in politics.

"NU leaders obviously support PKB for the next polls and ignore other NU-based parties such as PKU, PPP, PNU and Partai Suni (National United Solidarity Party)," Sholahuddin Wahid of PKU said. Sholahuddin is Abdurrahman's younger brother.

"It is not fair that almost all of NU's branch offices give facilities to PKB while others do not get any. All NU members are also strongly advised to vote for PKB."

In the East Nusa Tenggara regency of Sikka, protests were directed at local Golkar figure A.M. Keupung, who claimed his party helped people overcome the economic crisis by distributing social safety net funds. Keupung made the statement in a debate attended by representatives of 11 parties on Saturday.

"Such a claim justifies people's suspicions that Golkar has used money politics," said local PAN leader Anton Sina Tebu said.

Also in Sikka, about 5,000 people have reportedly switched their support from Golkar to PDI Perjuangan, Lalong Morajita of PDI Perjuangan said on Sunday. (44/edt/har/yac)