Police stay silent over detainees
JAKARTA (JP): Police remained tightlipped on the investigation of four detained activists from the Democratic People's Party (PRD) but vowed to continue looking into last week's clash between officers and party members.
City Police detective chief Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo said on Sunday he would not comment on the questioning of the four detainees but insisted police had enough evidence to proceed with charges on the offense allegedly committed by PRD protesters.
"They, for example, prepared themselves for a clash with our officers at the General Elections Committee (KPU) office.
"Yes... we have adequate evidence on that. But the most important thing for the police to disclose is the motive behind it," he said.
Alex was careful in his words about the preliminary results of the investigation on the four.
During Thursday's skirmish, PRD supporters, asking for the disqualification of ruling Golkar Party in the elections, clashed with police after a deadlock negotiation. Dozens were injured on both sides.
Police and military officials blamed party supporters suggesting the clash was planned and reported that evidence seized from the supporters included steel arrows, knives, barbed wire concealed in PRD flags and a bottle of mercury.
The four arrested protesters were identified as Fendri Panonban, a student at the Philosophy School in Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta; Wiyono, a student at the Engineering School in Widya Gama University in Malang, East Java and Subur and Fitra Suadram.
The four were still undergoing questioning at the Jakarta Police's intelligence office in South Jakarta and are reportedly not allowed any visitors.
"Please wait for the results of the questioning and our investigation," Alex said.
When asked whether police would summon Henri Kwuok, PRD's representative at KPU, he repeated: "Wait for the questioning's results."
To secure poll
Separately, National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi contended police officers took stern measures against the protesters on Thursday for one reason and that was to safeguard the general election's ongoing ballot counting at the KPU's office.
Police have agreed to let PRD's representatives enter the building to submit demands revoking the Armed Forces (TNI) dual function and disqualifying Golkar for alleged electoral violations, Roesmanhadi said on Sunday in Pasuruan, East Java.
"But they insisted entering with all the protesters, of course we have to also safeguard the results of the general election at KPU. The fact is they (PRD) were armed and intended to clash with us," the four-star general was quoted by Antara as saying.
Meanwhile, PRD offices in East Jakarta and Yogyakarta were attacked by unknown groups early Sunday and Saturday evening, respectively.
A PRD supporter, Endy S., was rushed to the hospital after he received stab wounds in the Yogyakarta incident.
"A group of some eight people broke into the office with weapons and molotov cocktails at about 11 p.m. on Saturday," Endy said.
He and 12 other fellow PRD activists fled the office. The office carpets were burned and some of the windows were broken.
In Jakarta, the predawn attack at the PRD office on Jl. Basuki Rachmat of Cipinang Muara shattered windows of the rented house and the house owner's Kijang van parked out front.
The unknown group reportedly attacked the house from a passing car by throwing stones and pieces of wood.
"They threw stones without getting out of the car and then they just left," the statement read.(emf/44)