One man killed in PDI-P clamor

DENPASAR, Bali: One person was killed and five others were injured on Monday when hundreds of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) supporters ran amok to disrupt the planned swearing-in ceremony of the new Jembrana regent.

Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha confirmed the death of I Gusti Ngurah Sena, and decided to cancel the ceremony.

The Bali administration spokesman I Gede Nurjaya said that I Gusti Ngurah Sena was killed by a stray rubber bullet fired by a member of the security forces when the fierce clash between the party's supporters and police officers erupted.

"He was shot in the stomach," Nurjaya said.

The commotion began when hundreds of PDI-P supporters tried to storm into the Mendopo Kesari Warmadewa auditorium in the town of Negara, where the ceremony was scheduled to take place.

Negara is located some 90 kilometers west of Denpasar.

The PDI-P supporters had earlier attacked the party's office as an expression of their disappointment that their candidate I Ketut Sandiyasa failed in the regent election.

He lost to a relatively "unknown" candidate, Gede Winasa.

Nurjaya said the guests became afraid and tried to save themselves. "The situation got out of hand. The security personnel had no other choice but to use force. They fired at the angry mob with rubber bullets," he said. (zen/sur)