PPP supporters dispersed with tear gas
JAKARTA (JP): Security forces fired tear gas to disband 2,000 angry supporters of the United Development Party (PPP) involved in a scuffle against Golkar supporters here yesterday
An exchange of barbs turned into an exchange of stones between the two sides as PPP supporters tried to force their way past a police barricade on Jl. Matraman Raya, East Jakarta.
Hundreds of police and military personnel were called to the scene as the fighting turned violent.
At least 10 PPP supporters and police ended up with head wounds following the afternoon melee, police said.
The East Jakarta police precinct arrested two PPP supporters. One of them was caught hurling stones at Golkar rivals while the other wore a T-shirt bearing the picture of disposed Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Police also impounded a car used in the rally after a search revealed a pair of scissors and a knife.
"PPP supporters were upset by the security forces' discriminative treatment. Police blocked off some streets today but did not do the same thing when Golkar supporters rallied a couple of days ago," said Rudy, a PPP security guard.
Security personnel restored order for an hour before another PPP crowd marched into the street shortly after dusk. Some of the campaigners held lit torches. Police managed to keep them at bay.
Another PPP rally in the BDN field in Jelambar, West Jakarta, featured campaigner and gangster-turned-propagator Muhammad Ramdhan Effendi, better known as Anton Medan.
Addressing 6,000 party supporters while thousands others roamed the surrounding areas, Anton said "it's high time corrupt government officials repented and used their authority for the good of the people".
Campaigning separately in the Central Java town of Purworejo, PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum also criticized government officials for being more afraid of losing their positions than of corruption and collusion.
In Bandung, anxiety gripped the city when thousands of campaigning PPP supporters rushed into a market on Jl. Otto Iskandar Dinata after security authorities stopped their street rally.
Nearby shop owners and street vendors stopped trading, fearing the party's faithful would cause a disturbance.
Riot police and military troops sprayed water from armored cars to disperse the crowd. No arrests were reported following the commotion.
Police in Bogor beat PPP supporters with batons to clear traffic in several main streets which were jammed by street rallies. The measure prompted students of state-run Bogor Agriculture Institute to stage a protest.
Pictures of Megawati were displayed widely in PPP rallies in the East Java towns of Surabaya, Pasuruan and Sleman in Yogyakarta, despite a government ban.
Yells in support of Megawati and an anticipated alliance with PPP were heard everywhere. Green flags bearing stars were also present. Green and red is PPP's and PDI's colors respectively. A star is PPP's symbol.
Golkar chairman Harmoko said in his indoor campaign speech in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, that political reformation would be dangerous without a strong economic foundation.
"Without a strong economy, poverty will prevail and in turn rival countries will make a game of it," Harmoko was quoted by Antara as saying.
"We don't want such a thing to happen ... Golkar always pursues an economic development that empowers small businesses for the sake of dignity and prosperity of all.
"Successful development is not the fruit of idealism or freedom of speech only," he said amid the cheers of hundreds of spectators.
Harmoko denied that Golkar's preference for economic development would push aside political reform.
"Instead, Golkar is committed to improving political life which complies with Pancasila democracy," said Harmoko.
Meanwhile, PDI chairman Soerjadi told some 3,000 at Sriwijaya Stadium parking lot in Palembang, South Sumatra, that the party would pursue a better education system in a bid to curb unemployment. (24/aan/ahy/imn/jun/nur/swe/amd/38)