Pro-Golkar Moslem preachers in hiding after riots

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)