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)