PPP supporters dispersed with tear gas
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)