Stone-pelting mars Golkar campaign in Jakarta

Stone-pelting mars Golkar campaign in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): A subdued display by the ruling Golkar Party
ended the first round of campaigning in the city on Monday, with
official party cars being pelted with rocks near Golkar's Jakarta
headquarters.

Head of Menteng police subprecinct Maj. Heru Winoto said
scores of people threw rocks at a convoy of cars carrying the
party's chairman, Akbar Tanjung, before his car entered the party
headquarters on Jl. Pegangsaan Barat.

Akbar, the former minister/state secretary, had just returned
from campaigning in Rajawali Selatan, Central Jakarta.

Heru said that members of Golkar's security force confronted
the group throwing rocks at the convoy. "But so far there are no
fatalities and no one was arrested," he said.

Jakarta police spokesman Lt.Col. Zainuri Lubis said eight
vehicles were slightly damaged in the fray.

Witnesses said Golkar's security personnel, who carried
machetes and bamboo spears, chased after the mob, which
aggravated them further.

However, the chairman of Golkar's youth bureau, Asyraf Ali,
and Jakarta chapter head Tadjus Sobirin denied that the party had
armed its security force members.

According to Asyraf, the incident was sparked by
"irresponsible" people spreading rumors that hundreds of
scavengers and street children would be recruited as the party's
security force members, and would be paid Rp 50,000 each.

"We have indeed recruited 10 of them, but more than 100 people
came here this morning asking to be recruited and demanding the
payment. We couldn't fulfill the demand so we only gave them
Golkar T-shirts," he said.

The people became angry, he said, and used the T-shirts to
wipe cars and began stoning the party convoy. Riot troops fired a
number of warning shots when the mob began pelting them.

The incident was the second violent experience for Golkar in
Jakarta since the campaigns begun. The first was on Wednesday,
the first day of campaigning, when the party's floats were
vandalized.

Deputy chairman of the official Election Supervisory Committee
(Panwaspus) Todung Mulya Lubis, who arrived at the scene hours
later on Monday, said three people have been questioned for their
involvement in the incident.

"The clash involved crowds of people against Golkar. So this
is not a conflict between political parties. That is why it is
being handled by the police," Mulya told reporters after a quick
exchange with police and Golkar officials at the scene.

Mulya expressed concern over the incident and called for all
parties to restrain themselves from starting violence.

"The provincial poll supervisory committee will investigate
this further as there are a number of versions of the incident,"
he said.

The supervisory committee received reports that the angry
crowd was promised Rp 10,000 per person, he said, "while Golkar
officials told us some 300 scavengers thronged to the office and
asked for Rp 50,000 per person. These reports need to be
clarified."

Separately, hundreds of campaigners for the Indonesian
Democratic Union Party (PUDI), and several passersby, mocked
Golkar supporters when they met at the intersection of Jl. Gatot
Subroto and Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta.

Several PUDI supporters got down from their vehicles and
approached the Golkar group, but were calmed down by their fellow
campaigners. The Golkar supporters left unharmed in the direction
of Cawang.

The Golkar supporters had just left a campaign venue at a
field at the Saudi Arabia Embassy on Jl. Gatot Subroto, where
party chairman Akbar Tanjung delivered a speech.

Akbar told the crowd of about 2,000 supporters to refrain from
becoming angry if people mocked them.

Several celebrities, such as female rocker Renny Jayusman and
pop singer Eddy Silitonga, also performed at the rally. Renny was
among those who were taunted in Wednesday's parade.

Meanwhile, about 1,500 supporters of the People's Sovereignty
Party (PDR) started a street rally at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque
in Central Jakarta after noon prayers there. Waving flags, their
city tour involved about 40 bajaj (three-wheeled taxis).

Stickers depicting the party's symbol and a picture of the
Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Adi Sasono were on
the windows of the vehicles. Adi is a Golkar Party member but has
reportedly been influential in the founding of PDR. Adi has
denied this. PDR chairman Latief Burhan again denied allegations
of the party abusing social safety net funds for its political
interests.

Meanwhile Mulyana W. Kusumah, secretary-general of the
Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) and also deputy
chairman of the official Election Supervisory Committee, said now
people are likely support Golkar for the money. He was referring
to the dispute leading to the Monday incident. (ind/jun/edt)