The 1997 general elections campaign ended with the occurrence of a number of riots in some fringe areas of the Capital. Riots also swamped Tangerang, Bekasi, Bangil (East Java) and Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan). No official records have come in yet on loss of life or people who suffered injuries, but dozens of buildings and vehicles have been wrecked by the brutal behavior of the crowds.

In Jakarta, rumors of impending riots had been circulating among the public since Thursday night, causing the atmosphere in Jakarta during the morning and the day to be oppressive. Shops in the fringe areas of Jakarta as well as riot-prone districts were closed tight. Not a few offices declared the day off or opened for half the working day only. The security apparatus were also on the alert at the corners of the sidestreets where lately riots have taken place, such as Otista, Mampang, Ciputat, Warung Buncit, Matraman, Kebayoran Lama.

Ciputat

In Ciputat, South Jakarta, crowds of thousands packed the H Juanda-Ciputat Raya roads, part of them wrecking and looting a billiard parlor. From about 30 looters, eleven were caught. Security agents were provoked into firing warning shots and tear gas to disperse the crowds. As a result, a number of people suffered injuries. A citizen frightened by the explosion of firearms fell three floors from the billiard parlor and broke his legs.

According to eyewitnesses, the riot started because of a rumor that there would be retaliation by the Pancasila Youth and the Functional Group mass against the action the day before of IAIN students and local residents who had disturbed the Golkar campaign.

The Development Unity Party mass then concentrated their campaign by circulating between the IAIN and the Ciputat market. As a further development, said eyewitnesses, stonethrowing began between the two elections participant organizations masses. The masses went on the rampage. They burned car tires in the Ciputat market area and in the middle of the road between the IAIN and the Ciputat Metro Police Sector.

In anticipation of a worsening situation, a truckful of anti-riot troops arrived around 15.30 West Indonesia Time from the direction of Jakarta. They went directly to the location near the gasoline station opposite the McDonald restaurant and the Ciputat market. From that point they moved to disperse the crowd by combing the road from the direction of Ciputat towards the IAIN campus. They volleyed warning shots into the air. Meanwhile, some helicopters flew low and circled around. Within ten minutes, the crowds had run away into the alleys. Around 16.20, a company-strength anti-riot unit came to assist. They arrived in five trucks plus a firefighting vehicle. The troops carried out a combing movement to disperse the crowd, which finally did so nearing dusk.

The mass riot around Ciputat on Friday during the day and in the afternoon, forced thousands of residents returning home to Pamulang to walk from the Pasar Jumat/Lebak Bulus area to Ciputat.

In Kebayoran Lama

In Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, some business locations were much damaged by the crowd nearing evening. Hundreds of people on the march threw stones at various places of business such as Bank Central Asia, Bank Bumi Daya, "Beringin" Padang restaurant, and a number of shop-home combos. The crowds also pulled up traffic signs along the road and piled them up in the middle of the road together with stones. Although the situation could be brought under control, until nightfall the atmosphere was still oppressive. Hundreds of police and soldiers were busy securing the location while preventing people from observing from close by.

The riot in this area then swept over into the Ciledug zone, among others in the Cipulir and Larangan areas. The crowd burned car tires in the middle of the road. The security situation was controlled in a relatively short time, but thousands of people along the Ciledug Raya road had trouble finding public transportation, forcing them to walk to their destinations.

A similar situation occurred around the ITC Roxy Mas shopping center. About two hundred people tried to undertake a long march but were prevented by security apparatus. A stonethrowing action ensued but could be halted by the agents, and the crowd was plugged into the alleys in the vicinity.

Tangerang also riotous

The final campaign round of the Development Unity Party (PPP) in Tangerang was also highlighted by riots. A crowd of thousands threw hard objects at a number of shops, banks, government offices, and wrecked hundreds of flowerpots on the sidewalks, traffic signs, and at least three cars.

Since the start of the riot around 10.00, all shops, stalls and other places of business in Tangerang, even up to the area of Serpong, Tangerang Regency, were closed by their owners.

In this final campaign which was estimated to have involved more than 100,000 people of the party with the star symbol, seven people in the parade had traffic accidents. One among them died from wounds suffered when he fell of a truck in the Jatiuwung area. The Metro Jaya Region Police Chief, Maj.Gen. Drs Hamami Nata confirmed that a number of rioters had been detained. He did not know exactly how many.

To ensure the safety of the campaign's progress which had been highlighted by an unending parade since the morning by the PPP mass, hundreds of security agents were stationed. The agents were also supported by two armored cars. Helicopters kept up continuous monitoring from the air.

The riots in Tangerang started unexpectedly. Among the crowd somebody started to throw stones at shops. As a result, the windows of shops and a number of banks in the Pasar Anyar area and the Daan Mogot road were broken. The crowd also damaged shops and banks on Gatot Subroto road and Merdeka road. In the Batuceper area windows of a number of shops were also broken by the crowd. The office of the Tangerang Regency regional government office also did not escape objects thrown by the crowd.

Bekasi

In Bekasi Regency, an initially limited retaliatory stonethrowing action spread from Kampung Pulo, Cikarang Subregency, to the shopping center and the Cikarang Market. Shop windows were broken, vendor stalls had their doors broken open. The Cikarang Subregency office of the Department of Education and Culture was severely damaged.

Damage was done to the Golkar Regional Directing Board building on Jalan Ahmad Yani. Security units later blockaded certain roads.

The Metro Bekasi Resort Police Chief when contacted by Kompas commented that issuing any statements on the general elections, was the competence of the Regional Police, not the Resort Police.

In Banjarmasin

The final campaign of Golkar, in Banjarmasin, was also colored by riot, between the Golkar mass parading with vehicles and the local residents.

The incident was triggered by two fingers held high by people in the parade, being answered by one.

As a result, 4 cars in the parade were wrecked, 6 motorcycles burned. Part of the Golkar Regional Directing Board office was burned. The residence of the Golkar treasurer had all its front windows broken. A HKBP church on Jalan Pangeran Samudera was burned by the crowd. Residences of several officials had their windows broken.

Supermarkets and department stores were stoned. The Sarikaya supermarket and movie theatre, Hotel Barito, were burned. Dozens of firefighting vehicles were mobilized, armored cars were stationed on street corners.

The Armed Forces Information Center Head, Brig.Gen. Slamet Supriadi, commented that the large-scale rioting by supporters of the Development Unity Party (PPP) in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, has been planned from the beginning. Because that is a criminal act, the security apparatus will act firmly against the perpetrators in accordance with prevailing laws.

"The acts without morals which have exceeded the national bounds of tolerance have been carried out by the PPP supporters mass. We will act firmly against that," said Supriadi to Konmpas on Friday night in Jakarta. "The Armed Forces Headquarters deeply regret the occurrence of this incident while this nation is in the midst of promoting democratic life," he continued.

Bangil

In Bangil, East Java, a convoy of about 5,000 PPP supporters went on the rampage after Friday prayers. As a result, the police post in Bangil was wrecked, a truck of the Mobile Brigade was burned, three motorcylcles and a car of the police were burned, four private banks and three churches were damaged.

Also as a result, dozens of people suffered shot wounds when the security apparatus struck back. "People have died, but it is still not clear how many," said an official who did not want his name mentioned.

According to information gathered by Kompas, the incident started with a thousands strong PPP mass on convoy pending the final campaign in the town of Bangil.

A slapping by an anti-riot police agent before Friday prayers, was retaliated en masse afterwards. After being dispersed, the crowd in passing pulled out traffic signs and street lights. Four private banks were wrecked, Bank Gunung Adidana, BCA, BHS, Bank Artasenapati. The BCA bank was also burned.

As a result of this action a number were hit by shots from the duty personnel. At least eight people are being treated in the nearest hospital and five persons were rushed to the dr Soetomo hospital in Surabaya.

In Surabaya itself, the PPP ended its campaign in Taman Bungkul. Almost all shopping centers, offices and banks had been closed since the morning and tightly guarded by respective security personnel.