Three men injured in party supporters clash in C. Java

Three men injured in party supporters clash in C. Java

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): At least three people were
injured and one house destroyed when supporters of the United
Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB)
clashed Monday evening in Pekalongan, Central Java.

The incident erupted when a group of PPP supporters passed
along Jl. Raya Kartijan. An alleged group of PKB supporters
pelted the PPP supporters with stones, wounding three.

The regency chairman of the PPP, Abdurrahman Tobari, deplored
the incident, saying as Muslims supporters of the two parties
should avoid violence.

"I have reported the incident to police. And I hope that PKB
leaders will be able to control their supporters."

The chairman of PKB's local chapter, Bisri Romli, denied PKB
party supporters were involved in the attack. He said supporters
of another political party attacked the PPP supporters.

He said PKB members, affiliated with the Nahdlatul Ulama
Islamic organization, recently suffered similar attacks when
unidentified people ambushed their houses and damaged their cars.

"We do not want to clash with anyone, especially since all of
us are Muslims. We want to compete fairly in the polls," Bisri
said.

Separately in Semarang, the PKB, the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Mandate Party
(PAN) and Partai Damai Kasih Bangsa (Love The Nation Democratic
Party) jointly launched an antiviolence campaign.

Organizer Ahmad Farid said the purpose of the campaign was to
educate party supporters to remain united and tolerant of each
other despite differences in political views.

"We will continue this campaign in other regencies in the
province to prevent riots before and after the general election."

Meanwhile, Central Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi said
on Tuesday police would launch a number of raids to confiscate
illegal weapons and alcohol throughout the province ahead of the
June 7 general election. The raids would be conducted to help
prevent riots among supporters of the 48 political parties
contesting the polls, he said.

Police also will step up street patrols and checks of new
arrivals to the province. He said people arriving from other
provinces were obliged to report to the nearest neighborhood
chief within 24 hours of their arrival.

He said police had learned from the riots in the regencies of
Cilacap and Kebumen late last year and would not repeat the same
mistakes.

"There are indications this province is still quite vulnerable
to provocateurs," Nurfaizi said in Purwokerto. (har/45/prb)