Rally participants face off with rivals

Rally participants face off with rivals

TANGERANG (JP): More than 400 protesters demanding the
resignation of Tangerang Mayor Djakaria Machmud were involved in
a skirmish with supporters of Djakaria on Monday.

The protesters, grouped in Forum Penyelamat Tangerang (Save
Tangerang Forum) and Gedung Pemuda 52, arrived at the mayor's
office at about 10 a.m. and immediately became involved in a
quarrel with a rival group which was apparently waiting for them.

The two parties threw mineral water bottles at each other.

The two groups stopped fighting after the prompt arrival of
local police and military officers.

But the presence of Djakaria's supporters, who also numbered
about 400, was protested by those opposed to Djakaria.

"The mayor has hired hoodlums to face us," the protesters'
spokesman, Mahdi, said.

In reply, mayoralty spokesman Harry Mulya Zein denied the
accusation, saying that such an allegation was baseless.

Moreover, "they're not the country's minister of home affairs,
(who has the legal authority to replace a mayor)", he said.

Monday's rally also caused heavy traffic congestion along
Tangerang's main road, Jl. Daan Mogot.

From Djakaria's office, the protesters, mostly university
students, marched to the local council office. They urged
councilors to fire Djakaria from his post and requested that the
local prosecutor's office investigate alleged corruption
committed by the mayor.

Councilor Poniman, who received the protesters, explained that
the council had received similar complaints from different
groups, and information from people defending the major.

However, he said, it was the West Java governor's decision to
defend Djakaria as the Tangerang mayor.

The council also said the corruption allegations against
Djakaria were being investigated by the local prosecutor's
office. (41/jun)