No to armed civilians: Sultan

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)