Police stay silent over detainees

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)