Party chapter orders weapons

Party chapter orders weapons

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): A local chapter of a political
party has ordered hundreds of sharp weapons from a factory in
Klaten ahead of the June 7 elections, an official said here.

"I do not know the motive, but I deplore the move because it
is not creating a climate of peace ahead of the poll," Gunanto
Suryono, chairman of the provincial poll supervisory committee,
said. He added Governor Mardiyanto was notified of his report.

Gunanto refused to name the political party but said there was
an order of up to 125 sharp weapons to the factory. The source of
the report was also undisclosed.

The province has been rocked by violence between political
parties in the recent weeks.

At least four people were killed and dozens more injured in a
clash between people identified as supporters from the United
Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) in
the Jepara regency late April.

Another two were injured in a brawl between supporters of the
Golkar party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) here on Sunday.

Semarang Police chief Lt. Col. Mathius Salempang said police
were still questioning 12 people allegedly involved in the Sunday
violence.

There are fears that widespread violence will disrupt the
poll, which is seen as a key test of transition to democracy
following the resignation last year of former president Soeharto.

Meanwhile in the riot-torn Maluku capital of Ambon, leaders of
political parties campaigning for the elections signed a peace
accord on Monday.

Also present were Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Maluku Police
Chief Col. Bugis Saman.

Ambon and a number of islands in the province were rocked by
religious clashes in which at least 300 were killed since
January.

In Padang, West Sumatra, at least 40 executives of a local
chapter of the ruling Golkar party have resigned, favoring their
job as civil servants.
A new electoral ruling bans civil servants from joining
political parties in a bid to ensure their neutrality. For years,
millions of civil servants and their families formed an important
source of Golkar votes.

Sueb Karseno, a secretary of the local chapter of Golkar, said
on Tuesday that among those who had resigned were a number of
local legislators.

In Jakarta, Latief Burhan, chairman of the People's
Sovereignty Party (PDR) denied allegations that the party
diverted the social safety net funds for its political interest.

"PDR is ready to be audited and to be punished if proven
guilty of being involved in money politics through the social
safety net program and village cooperatives," he said.

Latief acknowledged that the party was participating in the
distribution of the funds for the needy and providing credit
schemes to farmers and fishermen in cooperation with village
cooperatives.

"It is impossible for us to embezzle the funds because their
distribution has been closely monitored by the government and the
central bank," he said.

PDR and the ruling Golkar Party were accused of abusing the
funds when the National Development Planning Board said that some
Rp 8 trillion leaked from the funds had fallen to political
parties.

Hasballah M. Saad, representative of the National Mandate
Party (PAN) in the General Election Commission (KPU) revealed
that while on his recent visit to Aceh, Riau and South Sumatra,
he received reports indicating abuse of the safety net funds by
PDR.

Latief said the party would seek clarification from Hasballah.

Also on Tuesday the Secretary General of the National
Awakening Party (PKB) Iskandar Muhaimin said the party was
mulling over the timing of naming its patron Abdurrahman Wahid,
as presidential candidate.

"The problem now is whether to announce the nomination before
or after the election.

"Some say it is better to officially name him after the
poll... because if PKB lost the election, it is likely to cancel
the announcement," Iskandar said.

He also said PKB has set a joint campaign schedule with PDI
Perjuangan in several areas of Central and East Java. "We hope it
could eliminate violence." (har/byg/rms/edt)