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)