Military suspects PRD role in unrest

Military suspects PRD role in unrest

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) suspects the outlawed
Democratic People's Party (PRD) of orchestrating some of the
election campaign violence.

Various parties, including PRD, are using the campaign period
to further their political ends, including to foil the election,
ABRI Sociopolitical Affairs Chief Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid told
reporters yesterday.

The military had evidence linking the PRD to the campaigns so
that "it's reasonable to suspect its involvement in the violence
that has happened during the campaign," Syarwan said.

Nine PRD leaders are in jail, convicted for subversion in
connection with various party activities last year, including
organizing a series of demonstrations.

National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi said that 80
people had been killed since the campaign began on April 27. Most
died in traffic accidents during campaign motorcades but some
were killed in clashes between rival parties.

Syarwan said the series of campaign-related unrest followed a
pattern that pointed to PRD involvement.

He said military intelligence had learned of a series of
meetings to plan the disruption.

Leaflets found during the campaign endorsed some of the PRD's
goals such as replacing the legally elected government and
repealing the political laws, he said.

"These have strengthened our suspicions of PRD's role," he
said after leading a closed-door meeting with editors of
newspapers, magazines and TV stations at ABRI headquarters.

Syarwan said PRD had been disseminating malicious rumors to
stir trouble.

"On Sunday, a rumor that a small mosque in Otista was burned
down spread quickly, reaching even as far as Yogyakarta. The
rumor was unfounded of course. The Jakarta Military Commander
even led a dusk prayer gathering there," he said by way of
example of the disinformation campaign.

Otista (Ottoiskandar Dinata) is a main road in East Jakarta
which has witnessed violent clashes between supporters of Golkar
and PPP. Another riot broke out there yesterday.

Syarwan firmly denied the suggestion that ABRI was profiting
from the chaos.

"That's naive and simply doesn't make any sense," he said,
adding that if ABRI wanted to create trouble, "all we would have
to do is sleep for two days."

"Every day our soldiers are in the field, showing patience and
restraint. No one has died because of an ABRI shooting," he said.
"Our soldiers are in the field to find the wisest ways to
safeguard the election."

Police, often helped by soldiers, have used mostly rubber
bullets and tear gas to disperse crowds.

ABRI was committed to ensuring that the various phases of the
general election proceeded smoothly, Syarwan said.

There are still several phases to go through, from the
"cooling-off period" from May 23 to May 28, polling day on May
29, and the ensuing vote count, he said.

"We will see to it that they proceed as planned," he said.
(emb/imn)