Violence mars PDI campaign

Tue, 29 Apr 1997, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

By Ainur Sophiaan

SURABAYA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) first
day of campaigning here ended in disarray yesterday as about
5,000 loyalists of ousted party chief Megawati Soekarnoputri
stormed the arena.

Several people sustained injuries from punches and flying
rocks during the scuffle. The police said no arrests were made in
the brawl that security authorities quickly brought under
control.

The incident happened only minutes before campaigner Budi
Hardjono, a senior PDI politician under the government-backed
Soerjadi leadership, was due to appear on the podium in Bungkul
Park at about 2 p.m.

Soerjadi unseated Megawati in a government-backed rebel
congress last year. The government has barred Megawati from
running in the election.

The one-hectare park was filled with the lively popular folk
music dangdut when Megawati supporters in buses, trucks and on
motorcycles streamed into the lightly guarded site.

The dangdut singer had just finished the last line of her hit
Anggur Merah (Red Wine) ... how could you hurt me like that...
when a Megawati supporter jumped onto the stage. The man snatched
the microphone from the singer and repeatedly shouted,
"Campaigning without Megawati? No way."

Other supporters shouted, "Right. Viva Megawati." The trouble
began when Sabrot Malioboro, a local pro-Soerjadi PDI leader,
jumped onto the stage and tried to grab the microphone from the
man.

People on the dance floor hurled stones at the stage. Pro-
Soerjadi security taskforce members were met with punches when
they tried to stop the mob.

Many pro-Soerjadi activists crossed to the Megawati camp
yesterday, shouting "Long live Megawati".

Activists of the two camps rejoiced until about 300 security
officers equipped with riot gear and armored vehicles arrived to
disperse the party.

The crowd peacefully dispersed, continuing to yell pro-
Megawati and anti-Soerjadi slogans.

Surabaya military chief Col. Syamsul Maarif, who arrived after
the park was deserted and the stage in rubble, deplored the raid
on the campaign by Megawati supporters.

"All this only supported our belief that some irresponsible
people mean to sabotage the general election," he told
journalists.

He refused to comment on accusations that security authorities
had failed to anticipate the incident, saying that security was
chiefly the responsibility of each party.

Meanwhile, campaigns by the United Development Party (PPP) and
Golkar proceeded without incident.

The PPP, fielding its senior politicians Zain Badjeber, Alawy
Muhammad and Hamzah Haz criticized the widespread corruption and
collusion in the government as well as social injustices.

In the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin, Zain said
corrupt practices are difficult to solve under the current laws.

In a speech aired by state-owned television station TVRI, PPP
Chairman Ismail H. Metareum said his party would ensure that
justice is for all, not just the privileged.

Metareum is scheduled to address his supporters in Surabaya
and Pasuruan, East Java, today.

Golkar chief Harmoko and popular dangdut singer Rhoma Irama
drew huge crowds in Aceh and the North Sumatran capital, Medan.

Harmoko said Golkar was committed to creating employment and
reducing poverty.

Rhoma, whose shift of political allegiance from PPP to Golkar
has angered many PPP Central Java activists, told supporters in
the predominantly Moslem Aceh province that Golkar is
increasingly adopting Islamic values.