More arrests made after new attacks in Yogyakarta

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.