Yogita Tahilramani, Jakarta – Internal disputes within the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) took on a new dimension on Monday when PDI Perjuangan members protesting against Surabaya branch office party head, M. Basuki, were beaten up by police for forcing their way into the Surabaya Legislature building on Jl. Yos. Sudarso.
The demonstration was held by supporters of PDI Perjuangan secretary-general Sutjipto, who had allegedly fabricated documents which resulted in the ouster of Basuki, police officers said.
Among the 20 PDI Perjuangan members who suffered beatings by officers from the Surabaya Police elite mobile brigade (Brimob), were reportedly Sutjipto's son, Wishnu Sakti Buana, and a 60-year-old grandfather, who participated in the demonstrations on Monday.
"Police have so far made no arrests. We will only call the demonstrators for questioning over the violence that occurred," South Surabaya Police Resort chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sunarjo said on Monday afternoon.
The demonstrators, grouped under the People's Struggle for Total Reform (PRRT), forced their way into the compound, just as legislators had finished a meeting to discuss the issue of the PDI Perjuangan faction's chief post.
The chief post is currently being fought over by groups within PDI Perjuangan, including Basuki's group.
The demonstrators reportedly started throwing plastic water bottles at the faces of security personnel for not allowing them into the legislature building. When police officers got hit in the face by the bottles, they got angry and started to beat up the demonstrators with their sticks.
Demonstrators who suffered severe head and facial wounds as a result of the beatings, were rushed to the Dr. Soetomo hospital in Surabaya. The angry police officers also started damaging the sound system used by the demonstrators during the protest.
House of Representatives legislator Haryanto Taslam of PDI Perjuangan had filed a lawsuit in February on behalf of his colleagues against Sutjipto over document forgery and defamation.
Haryanto had demanded that Sutjipto and the party's top executives revoke a decree to dismiss M. Basuki. The legislator at House Commission II on law and home affairs has accused Sutjipto of fabricating documents which resulted in the ouster of Basuki.
"Sutjipto's statement in a letter saying there was a party executive board meeting to dismiss Basuki was all a lie," said Haryanto, Basuki's legal advisor. He added that Sutjipto's attitude had tarnished the party's image, and therefore he deserved administrative sanctions, including dismissal.
Sutjipto, who is deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, played down the legal action, saying that the party executive board supported him.