PPP supporters attack PLN office after blackout

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): A United Development Party (PPP) rally turned violent here yesterday when supporters attacked an office of state electricity company PLN after a blackout.

The front windows and doors on the first four floors of the six-story building were smashed before riot police managed to contain the crowd.

The mob was driven back to the rally in a soccer field across the street from the building. No injuries were reported and no arrests were made.

Rioting also broke out in the Central Java town of Pekalongan, where PPP and Golkar supporters clashed Wednesday night. At least eight people were injured, several houses damaged, two motorcycles torched and a government building vandalized.

The riot in Ujungpandang erupted 10 minutes after the rally of about 15,000 people began at 2 p.m. The sound system failed, throwing the rally into disarray.

Angry people crossed the street and threw stones at the PLN building. They were only dispersed after riot police reinforcements arrived.

Sulawesi regional military chief Maj. Gen. Agum Gumelar, South Sulawesi provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Ali Hanafiah and other top Armed Forces staff were at the rally. They quickly left when the crowd began to run amok.

Tension was high after the crowd was driven back to the field and more riot police reinforcements arrived. The mob hurled stones and abuse at the reinforcements.

Kyai Hardi Kiaidemak, who was supposed to lead the rally, condemned the riot.

PLN spokesman Budi Harjanto said the blackout was an accident and not intended to disrupt the rally.

He said the blackout happened after a 150 kilowatt cable in the Pangkep regency distribution system was cut off. The system was restored at 3:15 p.m.

In Pekalongan, a PPP stronghold, police and troops patrolled the streets last night to anticipate more unrest in the batik- making coastal town.

The riots there began at about 9 p.m. Wednesday and continued until 2 a.m. yesterday.

Eyewitnesses said the incident began when a group of Golkar supporters on motorbikes were pelted with stones on Jl. Kartini. They did not fight back.

As they rode on, they were attacked by another group of strangers believed to be PPP supporters. Four Golkar supporters received head injuries from flying stones.

A huge brawl erupted when more Golkar activists returned to the site of incident. Four PPP supporters were injured.

PPP activists then ran amuck in Buaran, Krapyak, Medono and Pringlanggu after hearing rumors that the four had died. They vandalized houses and motorcycles.

Security officers fired tear gas to disperse the PPP supporters. Residents said people kept roaming in groups, yelling anti-Golkar slogans.

Golkar and PPP supporters have clashed violently several times since March when PPP supporters burnt down a stage to be used for a Golkar music show featuring Dangdut singer Rhoma Irama, who was once a PPP activist.

The removal of both parties' flags in subsequent incidents has triggered more violence. (30/37/har/pan)