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)