Jakarta – Nearly 300 protesters from the People's Democratic Party, known by its Indonesian short as PRD, pressed on Friday with a rally outside the General Election Commission's office following Thursday's bloody clash with riot police that left more than 20 injured, either hit by batons or shot at by rubber or plastic bullets.
Hundreds of policemen, many wearing riot gear, ringed the commission's building Friday to keep the protesters from coming close. "People unite, dismiss Golkar," reads one banner. PRD's supporters also held rallies elsewhere in the country.
"They can never understand that the blood we shed goes to the people," said PRD protester from Bandung, capital of West Java province, whose head was wounded Thursday by a policeman hitting with the barrel of his gun.
In the meantime, General Election Commission chairman Rudini told a news conference at the commission's building that the jailed PRD's chairman Budiman Sudjatmiko should be released. He also urged for the release of PRD's protesters who were arrested by police following Thursday's incident.
"Since Budiman Sudjatmiko is a party chairman, it is only fair to release him as a political prisoner. This is not to intervene the rule of law, it is only something that comes out of my conscience," he said.
Speaking on the demand for the disqualification of Golkar, he said the commission will have to discuss it in a plenary meeting. He said, however, that the commission will first pass on the demand to the election monitoring committee (Panwaslu) and the Supreme Court.
Aan Rusdiyanto, PRD representative in the National Election Committee (PPI), told the PRD's protesters that the June 7 election did not proceed fairly due to many violations and irregularities.
He said the bureaucracy still made use of its resources to influence voters, many empty ballot boxes were still found and officials intimidated people in a number or provinces to vote for Golkar.
He rejected suggestions that small parties have been trying to hamper vote counting process. What is happening, he said, is that small parties want to see legal penalties be taken against those who committed violations and irregularities.
"The PRD is ready to leave the National Election Committee (PPI) or the General Election Commission (KPU). We don't want seats in the parliament (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) but we will continue to fight for democracy. In that case, it is only fair for us to demand that Golkar be disqualified," he said.
At around 3.30pm, Rudini and commission member Sri Bintang Pamungkas approached the protesters. Rudini said he had no intention to keep PRD's supporters from meeting him. "I am always ready to meet with anyone," he said.
In talks with Rudini, protest leader Ulin Niamyusron repeated PRD's demand that Golkar be disqualified from the election for many violations and irregularities committed by ruling party.
Rudini said he will pass on the demand to all members of the commission. He told PRD's protesters that the commission has set up a special team to follow up on reports of violations and irregularities related to the election.
PRD's protesters were adamant with their demand. "We will continue to stage demonstration rally against the General Election Commission until Golkar is disqualified," said one protester. In Surabaya, capital of East Java province, PRD's supporters marched from Airlangga University to the local state-run RRI radio station. They demanded to have live broadcast. But the station's officials only allowed one of them to record their voice to be broadcast Saturday afternoon.
In Jember, also in East Java, PRD's supporters made an aborted attempt to hold rally in front of local police office. Two were detained.
In Ujungpandang, capital of South Sulawesi, a small group of PRD supporters marched from the provincial parliament's building to the local police office to express their solidarity to PRD's protesters in Thursday's showdown.