Police charge suspects in Bali political clashes

Police charge suspects in Bali political clashes

The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Jakarta

Police said on Monday they had detained at least 26 people, but
had charged only six of them as suspects, as a result of the
political clashes in Buleleng regency in Bali, which killed two
persons.

"We are still pursuing dozens of others who were in one way or
another involved in the unrest," Buleleng Police chief Adj. Sr.
Com. Muhammad Syafei said.

He declined to identify the suspects. However, a source in the
police investigation team named three of the six who had been
charged as Rajin, 45, Siket, 50, and Gede Mertada alias Kekeh,
36.

"They were apprehended by police officers at a food stall near
the crime scene a few hours after the incident took place," the
source added.

Syafei said the suspects would be charged under Article 170 of
the Criminal Code for their alleged roles in Sunday's fatal
clashes between supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party.

They could face a maximum punishment of 12 years in jail under
this article if they are found guilty of causing death or
damaging property during the riots.

The clashes erupted simultaneously in three areas in Buleleng,
with the worst incident taking place at Petandakan village, some
seven kilometers from the northern coastal regency's capital,
Singaraja.

Dozens of PDI Perjuangan supporters broke into the home of
Putu Negara, 39, a member of the local Golkar village committee
in Petandakan. The mob later dragged him to a house some 10
meters away and beat him to death.

Negara's younger brother, Ketut Agustana, 25, was killed as he
tried to shield the battered body of his brother.

Petandakan is one of the PDI Perjuangan's strongholds in
Buleleng, some 100 kilometers from the Bali capital of Denpasar,
with only a handful of Golkar supporters among the villagers
there. All six suspects are reported to be from Petandakan.

Syafei said the police had also confiscated eight swords, a
bow, 10 bamboo arrows and a number of spears, bricks and PDI
Perjuangan T-shirts.

However, in an apparent move to avoid offending the huge army
of supporters of President Megawati Soekarnoputri's PDI
Perjuangan in Bali, the police were trying hard to depoliticize
the investigation.

Several senior police officers identified the attackers as
"persons who were wearing PDI Perjuangan uniforms" instead of
"PDI Perjuangan supporters".

The incident forced at least 60 people, comprising Negara's
relatives and other Golkar supporters from Petandakan, to flee
the village and take refuge in Buleleng police headquarters.

The bodies of Negara and Agustana are still in Singaraja
hospital's morgue. It is not clear when and where they will be
buried.

A Golkar fact-finding team on Monday visited the victims'
bereaved relatives and inspected the two bodies.

"The party will cover the cost of the victims' cremation
ceremonies. We will also provide full scholarships for their
three children," said the leader of the nine-member Golkar team,
IGK Adhiputra.

In Jakarta, PDI Perjuangan deputy secretary-general Pramono
Anung called for talks with Golkar to ease the tension and
prevent more political clashes in Bali.

However, he was quoted by Antara as saying he was confused as
to who was responsible for the disturbances as all those involved
claimed that the other side had started the trouble.

Separately, Golkar deputy secretary-general Bomer Pasaribu
said that action needed to be taken to prevent the Bali conflict
from spreading to other regions. "I call on all Golkar members to
exercise self-restraint."

Bomer demanded that the authorities punish those guilty of the
violence, saying the conflict might have something to do with
Golkar's revival in Bali.

The clashes followed a Saturday rally by Golkar to mark the
anniversary of its founding in Tabanan, Bali. The event was
attended hundreds of Golkar supporters.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Monday the
rioting clearly showed the dangers that could arise ahead of the
2004 elections.

He reminded all political parties to abide by the prevailing
regulations by notifying the police before holding any
gatherings.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the PDI Perjuangan and Golkar to
stop their respective members from engaging in such riots.

"The civilian guards of these parties need to be more
disciplined and not act as militias," he said.