Violence mars PDI campaign

From: The Jakarta Post

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.

JP/Violence mars PDI campaign