Supporters occupy PDI-P office

KLATEN, Central Java: Hundreds of supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) occupied and seized the party's local office in Klaten regency, Central Java, on Wednesday.

The incident was in protest against the dismissal on Dec. 13 of the chief of the party's security, Haryanto Wibowo, by Harry Purnomo who chairs Klaten's PDI-P office.

The protesters arrived at about 1 p.m. on motorcycles and trucks.

While slamming Harry as arrogant and urging him to resign, the protesting supporters of Haryanto seized and blockaded the party's office there.

The decision by Harry, who is also the regent of Klaten, to fire Haryanto was unacceptable because it was only made in favor of the regent, protest leader Sratu said.

"The dismissal of the commander of the PDI-P security unit clearly reflects the interests of a certain person," he said, apparently referring to the regent. Sratu did not elaborate.

The noisy protest ended peacefully at 3:30 p.m. --JP