Megawati's victory calms unrest

Megawati's victory calms unrest

JAKARTA (JP): Fresh unrest erupted in several cities
nationwide on Thursday following Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri's
presidential election defeat to Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid a
day earlier.

Riots rocked Bali, the traditional political stronghold of
Megawati, on Thursday, paralyzing the capital of Denpasar with
looting and arson as well as triggering disturbances in areas of
Badung regency.

Tension reportedly eased after Megawati was elected the
country's vice president on Thursday evening.

Following unrest a day earlier, some 130 inmates fled the
Singaraja Penitentiary in Buleleng regency after mobs vandalized
the prison, Bali Police detective chief Col. Bambang Hendarto
said.

The first incident occurred on Thursday in front of the
council building and spread to the nearby compound of Maranatha
Church after about 300 people started to vandalize the
legislative building in Denpasar.

Police separately arrested 16 alleged rioters. Four were
arrested after the council office incident and 12 others were
caught after allegedly wrecking, looting and burning Sudirman
Agung Mall on Jl. Sudirman later in the afternoon.

In another part of Denpasar, a mob believed to be supporters
of PDI Perjuangan, blocked some of the city's main streets.

The mob, wearing T-shirts with Megawati Soekarnoputri's
picture on it, set fire on Thursday to buildings such as the
Badung Regent office, Badung Council, Golkar branch office, Panti
Graha meeting hall, as well as dozens of cars belonging to
government employees.

Meanwhile, Buleleng and Singaraja returned to normal on
Thursday after a mob damaged four buildings and set two
motorcycles ablaze shortly after Abdurrahman was elected
Indonesia's fourth president on Wednesday afternoon.

Among the buildings burned were the office of the Buleleng
Regent and his official house, and the bus station of Penarukan
in Singaraja.

Buildings which only sustained light damage were the office of
the local Golkar Party executive board, the local branch offices
of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Bank Central Asia (BCA) and
Danamon Bank.

Security forces in Buleleng were still trying to calm some
15,000 supporters of PDI Perjuangan who torched the regent's
house and office, Buleleng Police chief Lt. Col. Abdul Rachman
said on Thursday morning.

Bali Police chief Brig. Gen. Gunawan urged residents to be
calm and avoid taking any destructive measures.

"We will all suffer here if this outburst of anger continues,"
Gunawan said.

Antara reported that the Gilimanuk ferry port
was paralyzed on Thursday following the riots which erupted in
the Jembrana area of Bali the day before.

Hundreds of angry masses flocked to Gilimanuk port and burned
tires as well as blocked streets, forcing passengers to flee for
safety.

The Gilimanuk port connects Bali with the two main ports of
Ketapang in Madura and Banyuwangi, East Java. Dozens of ships
halted operations and berthed at the docks of Ketapang port.

In Batam, supporters of PDI Perjuangan went on a rampage and
destroyed the facilities of the Sekupang seaport on Thursday.
They vandalized and set ablaze a dozen parked cars in a housing
complex, but no fatalities were reported, Antara said.

"The crowd suddenly pelted stones and damaged the compound,"
Ashidiq, a port official, said.

The dispute was believed to have been sparked by the masses
concentrated in the seaport when the vessel Sinabung docked to
board passengers for Jakarta.

Meanwhile, seven party supporters, allegedly involved in
Wednesday's unrest in Batam, were arrested by security officers,
an official said.

"Seven party supporters are now detained at the Barelang
Police station," Director for Security Affairs of the Batam
Authority Brig. Gen. Eric Wotulo told Antara in Batam on
Thursday.

Unrest erupted in Riau's special district following the
results of the presidential election on Wednesday. No fatalities
were reported in Wednesday's riot.

Soerya Respationo, an official of local PDI Perjuangan office,
asked party supporters to not be easily provoked by rumors.

The situation was normal in Batam on Thursday despite fresh
rumors that looting may continue in the city.

In Medan, North Sumatra, hundreds of Megawati's supporters
thronged the streets and vandalized the North Sumatra Provincial
Legislative Council building.

They expressed anger by shouting and burning tires, but
eventually dispersed later in the afternoon.

No fatalities were reported in the disturbance which lasted
until about 5 p.m. (39/zen/edt/imn)