Village chiefs protest protests

KEBUMEN, Central Java: More than 450 village chiefs and subdistrict chiefs from the Kebumen area held a rally against Golkar at the local administration office here to seek protection against their own residents now frequently protesting against them.

They claimed that they had long been servants of Golkar but were now being treated with disdain by residents who participated in almost daily protests against them.

The chiefs decried the fact that Golkar seemed to offer them little support in the face of such widespread criticism.

Efforts to meet with the Kebumen regent failed since he was in Jakarta attending the dominant grouping's extraordinary congress. They eventually met with the administration's secretary, Soepardjo.

One village chief, Pranoto, complained that over 63 villages in the area had been the scene of vigorous demonstrations.

"You know that we have only been carrying out Golkar's instructions all this time. Why have we now become targets?" he remarked. (45)