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Indonesia tension

Source
Voice of America - May 5, 1997

Jenny Grant, Yogyakarta – Political tension in Central Java is rising after a series of clashes between rival party supporters. Jenny Grant reports from Yogyakarta the killing of a local gangster has added to the uneasiness.

It is election campaign time in Yogyakarta and the streets are heavily guarded by soldiers armed with semi-automatic weapons. Youth ride motorbikes wielding traditional knives and party security guards secure key locations.

Analysts say the university town of Yogyakarta is the political barometer of the nation, and the pressure here is clearly growing.

Last week 50 security guards working for the ruling Golkar Party attacked two branches of the Moslem backed United Development Party – the P-P-P.

The attack, which left two people injured, is being investigated by police. The P-P-P boycotted two days of campaigning in protest and officials met here Saturday to discuss the violent incidents. They say they plan to resume campaigning on Sunday.

The Legal Aid Institute has released a list of 14 violent incidents that have occurred here since the campaign began, including beatings and vandalism of party property.

Earlier this week, local gangster Sudiraharjo (no other name) known as "Abu" was killed by a group of unidentified men north of Yogyakarta. Abu had been working for Cakra - the Golkar Security Taskforce which attacked the Moslem Party offices. This had led to speculation that he was killed by P-P-P thugs or the military in an operation to rid the town of criminals before the May 29 polls.

P-P-P has rejected the allegation and Yogyakarta Police said they were stilll investigating.

Political analyst and leader of the National Muhammadiyah Group, Amien Rais, said party leaders will have to manage the tension to ensure it does not flare into open violence.

An election boycott campaign by university students which was thriving last month has now been forced underground. Students allege beatings and torture by military authorities, but the harsh treatment has not deterred them.

Activist Hari Prabowo who was arrested in April at a boycott protest said he has chosen to boycott because the elections were not free and fair.

We are all students together. We don't believe in the general election which is arranged by the government because we know there is no democracy.

A recent survey predicted that nearly 40 percent of students at the state run university of Gadjah Mada here will boycott the campaign. A poll at the National Islamic Institute here showed 90 percent of students would choose to blank vote.

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