Pro-Golkar Moslem preachers in hiding after riots

SEMARANG (JP): More than a dozen pro-Golkar Moslem preachers taking refuge at government officials' residences in the wake of the recent political violence are afraid to return home for safety reasons, an official said yesterday.

Central Java Golkar chief Alip Pandojo called the police to protect the preachers so they could be reunited with their families.

Alip declined to say who threatened the religious leaders but it is commonly understood they were supporters of Golkar's rival, the Moslem-oriented United Development Party (PPP).

"I am concerned that dozens of preachers are afraid to go home and feel terrorized by certain election contestant's supporters," Alip told journalists.

The preachers fled their homes in the wake of political unrest involving Golkar and PPP supporters. The riots broke out when government officials removed PPP banners and replaced them with Golkar's.

At least 60 shops were torched and two truckloads of batik were burned down last week.

PPP won the 1992 election in Pekalongan, a party stronghold.

Unrest

The unrest was first sparked on March 26 when PPP supporters burned down a stage to be used by Rhoma Irama, a pop singer who crossed over from PPP to Golkar.

Three political parties, Golkar, PPP and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), will compete in the May 29 election. They agreed yesterday to remove their banners from the town's streets.

In government-sponsored talks, the three political organizations agreed that the recent flurry of incidents was sparked by a dispute over the banners.

"It's expected that no more unrest will break out after the flags were removed from the streets," Pekalongan mayor Samsudiat told The Jakarta Post.

Meanwhile, preacher Afifudin Musytari Al Hafidz whom the police suspect of inciting the Pekalongan riot was banned Wednesday from lecturing until the general election.

"I accept the reasoning of the ban, which is to safeguard political stability ahead of the election," he said. "I will have to break commitment to address numerous gatherings."

Central Java police chief detective Col. Ansyaad said the ban was meant to facilitate questioning of Afifudin.

Separately, Pekalongan military chief Lt. Col. Triharyanto said the authorities continued questioning six people Wednesday arrested for vandalizing the homes of local officials.

"They are being detained at the military office and will be taken to court if we have enough evidence on their crime," he said. (har/pan)