Jakarta – An unidentified group yesterday attacked an office of the Democratic People's Party (PRD), following last week's shooting of PRD activists by security officials.
The PRD branch office in Utan Kayu, East Jakarta, was stoned by people inside a car. Windows of the office were smashed, as was the windscreen of a car parked outside. "They pelted stones without getting out off their vehicle. Then they drove away," said a press statement from the PRD's Information Division. Nearby residents said about seven persons were involved in the stoning of the PRD office.
Yesterday's attack was the latest act of terror against the small "radical" party headed by Budiman Sudjatmiko, who is still serving a jail term he received in 1997 for protesting against the rule of former president Soeharto.
Bigger attacks took place on Thursday when PRD activists staged a demonstration outside General Election Commission (KPU) building to demand the ruling Golkar Party be disqualified from the June 7 parliamentary election.
One PRD activist said unidentified people made lists of those present at the bloody demonstration. He fears those on the list will be subjected to threats.
'Missing' activists found
In a related development, about 40 PRD activists who went "missing" after Thursday's violent protest, have been found unharmed.
PRD official Aan Rusdyanto yesterday his 40 fellow activists had directly returned to their homes after the demonstration. "They did not report to PRD headquarters after the protest," he was quoted as saying by private television network SCTV.
The whereabouts of the 40 activists had been unknown for 24 hours after they violently clashed with police on Thursday. Rusdyanto said his office knew of their whereabouts on Saturday evening.
He said another four PRD activists are still being detained at Jakarta Police headquarters following the violence. The four detainees have rejected charges by police, that they had been carrying sharp weapons, such as arrows, during the demonstration, he added.
Healing activists
Meanwhile, Mandiri Online reported the condition of PRD activists who were injured in Thursday's clash is improving. Dhyta Caturrani, a sociology student from Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University (UGM), is able to speak.
The condition of activist Aris Jefri, who is also hospitalized at St Carolus, is improving. The PRD announced that almost all activists who took part in Thursday's demonstration have returned to their homes.
[According to ASIET activists in Jakarta, Dhyta's condition has in fact deteriorated and as on July 7, she was finding it difficult to speak, can no longer sit up and is vomiting up her food. Although the exact reason for this is unclear, it is suspected that she may be suffering internal injuries from the massive beating she received after being shot in the back - James Balowski.]