PPP protests over threat

PPP protests over threat

SURABAYA: The local chapter of the United Development Party
(PPP) has lodged a complaint with the government, protesting the
village chiefs' intimidation of its party activists in Madura
last week.

Party chapter chief Syumli Syadli said that the protest was
filed with the local and national office of the general election
committee as well as governor Basofi Sudirman.

The incident happened when Torjunan village chief Mansyur
forcibly dispersed and threatened PPP leaders gathered in
Sampang, Madura, with a machete.

Under the Indonesian political system, all government
officials are supporters of the Golkar party, which, along with
the PPP and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), will contest
the general elections next year.

Mansyur also forced the PPP leaders to sign a statement which
asked them to promise to retract a report that the local election
officials had failed to register 500 PPP supporters.

Syumli criticized the police, who were present when the
incident was taking place, for not intervening and stopping the
village chief.

"Their inaction could create a bad impression about the police
force as a whole," he said.

He charged that the village chief meant to sabotage the 1997
general election. "He was trampling the rules," he said.

Sampang is a PPP stronghold in East Java. The incident
prompted Sampang regent Col. Fadhilah Budiono on Tuesday to
summon influential Moslem preachers to help calm the town.
(15/pan)