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.