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)