No to armed civilians: Sultan

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Following a clash between local supporters of the United Development Party (PPP) and residents here on Sunday, Governor Hamengkubuwono X called on people in the sultanate town on Thursday to oppose the existence of armed civilian groups.

"No more violence here. No more armed civilians. Do they want to turn Yogyakarta into another Colombia, where armed civilians control some regions," said Hamengkubuwono, who is also the sultan.

He urged the people of Yogyakarta to have zero tolerance for any armed civilian groups, because "it is illegal for civilians to carry weapons everywhere in the country".

"If we do nothing about this it will become a bad habit, and the people of Yogyakarta will no longer feel secure."

He also asked the local police to take tougher measures against armed groups.

"They have caused disturbances. We must do something or there will no supremacy of the law in this province," he added.

He was speaking to journalists after opening a workshop on regional autonomy at the Radisson Hotel.

"I think the police acted properly in handling the case (on Sunday)," he said, adding that if necessary repressive measures should be applied to maintain security and peace.

Hamengkubuwono refuted a statement issued by the provincial chapter of the PPP, which alleged that the police had acted harshly against the party's supporters.

"Their statement was a political move. We just want to be fair and honest in this case, we don't need any political tricks," he said.

The violence on Sunday occurred as hundreds of PPP supporters were returning home in a motorcade from a party gathering in Bantul, south of here. A group of local residents became angry after the party supporters hurled what they felt were taunts at them.

At least 18 people were injured in the clash before police moved in to quell the brawl. (23)