More arrests made after new attacks in Yogyakarta

Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta Police arrested more people on Saturday following renewed attacks by unidentified groups of people linked to the rivalry between the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the United Development Party (PPP).

The sporadic attacks took place in several places across the city on Friday, killing at least one person and wounding eight others.

Earlier on Thursday, the police arrested three other suspects blamed for similar attacks on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19, which left two people killed and several houses, kiosks damaged or burnt.

The police declined to give explanations on the latest incidents and Saturday's arrest of the two identified as Koko and Anto, both residents of the village of Purwokinanti.

"We are conducting a clandestine operation now, I hope you understand our position not to disclose details of what we are doing at this time," Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Y. Wahyu Saronto told reporters on Saturday.

Sofyan Handono, a 20 year old from Kasihan subdistrict, Bantul regency, was found dead with stab wounds to his stomach on Friday night.

He was among the victims of attacks launched by rivals armed with a variety of sharp weapons earlier on Friday, a day after local leaders of PDI Perjuangan and PPP met at the province's police office to seek efforts to end the violence.

It was not clear which party Sofyan belonged to.

Witnesses said at least six people riding three motorcycles with spears and machetes in their hands launched hit-and-run attacks in the Mlati area, Sleman regency, and the Terban and Beringharjo markets.

Separate attacks also took place along Jl. Beskalan and Jl. Sriwedari in Yogyakarta the same day.

The eight people, mostly supporters of PPP, were wounded in the separate attacks and are now undergoing medical treatment in hospital.

The two people killed during previous attacks on Feb. 18 and 19 were members of PDI Perjuangan. The attackers were clad in black and suspected of having links with PPP, PDI Perjuangan.

Leaders from both parties denied the involvement of their organizations in the attacks but instead blamed them on provocateurs.

"The violence has been triggered by people who probably happen to be supporters of PPP and PDI Perjuangan. On an official level there is, of course, no enmity between us," Syukri Fadloli, a PPP deputy chairman of the Yogyakarta branch, said after attending Thursday's meeting.

The two parties agreed in the meeting to temporarily refrain from conducting mass rallies or gatherings until the situation calms down.

They had signed similar pacts in the past, but this failed to halt attacks on rival supporters.

Also on Thursday, the two parties pledged to fully back police efforts to enforce the law against attackers over the latest spate of violence.

Local police have been accused of being reluctant to take stern measures against those involved in past cases of violence, as the attackers were often protected by their respective parties.

Wahyu demanded that leaders of the two political parties stay away from intervening in the police investigation into the suspects charged with the recent attacks.

"I hope they are consistent with their pledge and will support our investigation into this case in accordance with criminal codes."

Separately on Saturday, deputy chairman of the local PDI Perjuangan branch Tatang Setiawan said that PDI Perjuangan would set up an investigation team in cooperation with other political parties, in particular PPP.

Wahyu added that both PPP and PDI Perjuangan should be more selective in recruiting members of their security task forces (Satgas) to avoid the two political parties from being used by people for their own interests.