Megawati seeks report on riot in Surakarta

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri has personally asked Surakarta Mayor Imam Soetopo for comprehensive information on Wednesday's riot which involved supporters of her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Imam Soetopo told reporters on Friday that Megawati requested a full report on the Surakarta fray, in which outraged people damaged office and business centers following her loss in the presidential election. Similar riots broke out in the PDI Perjuangan strongholds of Jakarta, Medan, Batam island in Riau, and Bali.

Megawati's election as vice president on Thursday eased the masses' outrage across the country.

Imam refused to explain whether the central government would extend funding to rebuild the mayoralty office, which was burned down during the commotion.

"One thing is for sure, we have sent Ibu Mega the complete report of the incident," he said.

He expressed concern over the destruction of his office, in which important documents were also burned.

Without mentioning the total financial loss caused by the unrest, he said his office would be rebuilt using Rp 500 million originally allocated for investment in the local government bank.

A PDI Perjuangan legislator, Gunawan Wirasaroyo, said the party would send a team here led by Dimyati Hartono to assess financial losses resulting from the unrest.

Meanwhile, police captured on Sunday three prisoners who escaped from jail during Wednesday's unrest. The arrest of Bahrudin, Donny Yulianto and Kawit Widodo brings the number of inmates recaptured or surrendered as of Sunday to 12.

Earlier on Saturday, eight prisoners were caught and one surrendered. They were Loso, Totok Prabowo, Hartono, Gunawan, Triyono, Jihan Isranu, Suwarno and Heru Subroto.

Penitentiary warden Sudjito called on the remaining 11 prisoners to surrender, otherwise the police would hunt them down and severely punish them.

"We give them one week to surrender, otherwise their capture will result in heavier jail sentences," he said on Saturday.

Police also released 13 out of 21 suspects following Wednesday's unrest due to lack of evidence. (har/44/02)