One killed in Pasuruan as unrest continues

One killed in Pasuruan as unrest continues

SURABAYA (JP): One person was killed and four others injured
in a fierce clash between people claiming to be President
Abdurrahman Wahid's supporters and security officers in tense
Pasuruan on Wednesday, while another group of people ransacked
and torched a Muhammadiyah senior high school in neighboring
Situbondo.

However, in general the situation remained under control in
East Java, the stronghold of Abdurrahman, contrary to people's
belief that on Tuesday more people would take to the streets to
protest the House of Representative's (DPR) plenary session in
Jakarta.

After torching the Muhammadiyah school in Situbondo, the mob
proceeded to the local legislature. They said they wanted to
force the speaker of the legislative council and the regent to
sign a written rejection of a People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) special session. Police prevented them from seeing through
their plan.

Eyewitnesses said that the clash began after some 2,000
people, who gathered at the Kumala intersection in downtown
Pasuruan, moved toward a shopping center guarded by police and
soldiers.

"The personnel fired warning shots, fearing that the mob would
ransack the stores. But instead of leaving the area, the mob
retaliated by throwing stones and explosives at the officers,"
said a local, who requested anonymity.

The security personnel then opened fire, shooting one person
in the chest. The man, identified as Fathan, 25, died in Pasuruan
State Hospital at 1 p.m.

"Fathan was not one of the protesters. He had just left a
drink stall when he was hit by a bullet," Abdul Qadir, one of the
victim's neighbors, said. "His relatives will sue the police for
the fatal incident."

In a bid to calm the situation, the Pasuruan branch of the
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) met with the clergymen of Protestant
churches attacked by mobs on Monday and Tuesday.

Muzammil Syafe'i, NU Pasuruan chairman, said that a joint
investigation team between the NU and Christians had been set up
to deal with security.

Calm returned to Pasuruan after military exercises were
conducted by the second division of the Malang-based Army
Strategic Reserves Command's (Kostrad) Second Division of the
18th Brigade's 502nd Airborne Battalion.

An officer denied that the parachute troops were sent to curb
the rioting. "Our troops were in Pasuruan as part of an annual
jump."

A soldier was killed during the exercise, the officer
confirmed.

Surabaya, the capital of East Java, was calm. Most roads were
deserted as people chose to stay home.

A series of violence hit several towns in East Java following
the issuance of the President's controversial executive order,
known as Maklumat.

Rumors had it on Tuesday that huge a demonstration by people
claiming to be Abdurrahman supporters would be held in Surabaya.

Unconfirmed reports said that people who were against the
convening of an MPR special session would occupy Ketapang Port in
Banyuwangi and the Paiton power station in Probolinggo on
Wednesday.

Both the power station and the port were well guarded. Some
600 troops were deployed to guard the power station while one and
half companies of the police elite's Mobile Brigade (Brimob), a
company of the Navy's marines and battleships KRI Lambung
Mangkurat and KRI Sutanto were on alert at the port. It was the
heaviest security measure in Ketapang Port's history.

Some 500 people from the surrounding districts of Banyuwangi
headed for Ketapang Port but were blocked off by police officers
in Bedayungan, Banyuwangi.

One was reportedly wounded by gunfire, and three others were
arrested for inciting unrest. Banyuwangi Police chief Adj. Sr.
Comr. Anton Setiadi confirmed the arrests.

National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro had instructed his
men to shoot on sight anyone who tried to occupy strategic spots,
including the presidential palace, the DPR/MPR building, power
stations and state television and radio stations.

Setiadi stressed that up to 5:30 p.m. local time the situation
in Banyuwangi regency was relatively calm.

Ketapang harbor chief Taufik Handriawan said he saw no people
illegally entering the port. "It is so quiet here," he said.

So far police have arrested 174 people over the East Java
fracas.

East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Sutanto said that the
violence had been masterminded by a third party. "Each protester
was paid between Rp 5,000 and Rp 50,000."

He vowed to hunt for the masterminds.

Unacceptable

Meanwhile, NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi said in Jakarta on
Wednesday that the vandalizing of churches and schools in East
Java was unacceptable.

Hasyim said that on June 1, all NU ulemas would gather in
Malang regency, East Java, to raise fund for the rehabilitation
of the destroyed buildings.

He said that the NU would take responsible only for the
damaged churches and school buildings, not properties belonging
to political parties.

He was sure that the destruction was not masterminded by East
Javanese people.

"I know them (East Javanese) very well. Interreligion conflict
seems illogical in East Java. The relationship between the NU and
the Muhammadiyah is very smooth," he said.

Hasyim expressed hope that the people would stop expressing
their political aspirations with violence.

The properties of Muhammadiyah have become targets in recent
violence.

In Banyumas, Central Java, two Molotov cocktails exploded at
an Aisyiah kindergarten belonging to the Muhammadiyah at dawn on
Wednesday. No fatalities were reported but the school building
was totally destroyed.

Banyumas Police chief Comr. Imam Basuki said that three
unidentified men had been loitering near the building hours
before the blast.

In response to the House' plenary session in Jakarta, pro and
anti-Abdurrahman groups staged protests in Makassar, South
Sulawesi; Semarang, Central Java; and Bandung, West Java. (team)