PPP supporters' violence incited by outsiders: Tosari
JAKARTA (JP): An United Development Party (PPP) leader defended yesterday the party's supporters accused of campaign violence and vandalism by saying "outsiders" had provoked them.
PPP Secretary-general Tosari Widjaya said PPP supporters had clashed mostly with Golkar supporters and some Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) supporters after being stirred by unknown groups.
Tosari said he agreed with Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Slamet Supriadi's recent statement that there had been "indications of infiltration" in the ranks of the parties' supporters by people seeking to disrupt the election.
"However, we can't say who is doing the provocation. It's the job of security personnel to identify and find them," Tosari told The Jakarta Post.
The Moslem-based PPP's rallies in some towns across the country have been marred by clashes and vandalism that have led to injuries, the destruction of scores of houses and public property.
At a May 1 street rally in the Central Java coastal town of Pekalongan, a scuffle broke out between PPP supporters and Golkar supporters. Eight people were injured and a government office, other buildings and vehicles were vandalized or burned.
On the same day in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, PPP supporters attacked an office of state electricity company PLN after a blackout during a rally.
On May 4 in Ujungpandang, dozens of shop-houses and a karaoke bar were vandalized by PPP supporters. Supporters of the star- symbol party also fought locals. In the fight, a car was burned and a man was stabbed in the leg.
Tosari said the PPP supporters should not be considered the sole cause of the problems. "The incidents should be observed with a clear perspective, a look at the heart of the problems."
"Had the electricity company been more careful, the attack at its office in Ujungpandang wouldn't have happened," he said.
He urged the public "to just let the crowd (his supporters) be. Remember, you're dealing with crowds here, so take account of crowd psychology."
Tosari said the May 4 stabbing of the Golkar supporter in Ujungpandang had occurred after a PPP convoy was stopped and pelted with stones by "agent provocateurs".
Asked if the party would apologize to those who have suffered in the violence perpetrated by its supporters, Tosari said: "It would be an appropriate thing to do, to apologize and to even compensate them to the party's best ability, if it were our supporters who started it all".
Tosari said his supporters had suffered in the incident in Yogyakarta, where Golkar supporters attacked two PPP offices and beat up a party official. The authorities had not yet arrested the perpetrators.
The Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute called on the authorities yesterday to process campaign infringements.
"Whoever they are, whatever their organizations are, the perpetrators should be processed according to the law," the institute said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the PPP's campaign continued yesterday in Aceh, provinces in Sumatra, Bali, East and West Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.
At a rally in the North Sumatra capital of Medan, a local campaigner surprised thousands of supporters by nominating PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum for 1998-2003 presidency.
The nomination was proposed by Muh. Husni Malik. The crowd in Medan Johor district cheered. (aan/30/37/)