DIGEST No. 30
Title: Golkar push triggers violence
Date: 17 April, 1997
Recent election-related violence must be placed in context. Despite lurid Indonesian magazine covers showing Indonesia in flames, the violence is localised and has controllable causes.
First, it is (lately) restricted to Central Java. Second, it has as much to do with the ruling party's election fears as with explosive social tensions.
In Pekalongan, on Central Java's north coast, violence broke out on 24 March when hundreds of youths belonging to the minority party PPP burned down a Golkar stage that was to have been used to present Suharto's daughter Tutut, Islamic preacher KH Zainuddin MZ, and Islamic pop singer Rhoma Irama. The youths were angry with 'turncoat' Rhoma Irama, probably Indonesia's most popular singer, who once campaigned for PPP. Zainuddin is Indonesia's most prominent TV preacher.
On 26 March PPP youths in Pekalongan rioted again, attacking Chinese shops after officials pulled down PPP flags and replaced them with Golkar ones. The same happened on 6 and 9 April.
The government held a PPP supporter responsible for the violence. Preacher KH Afifuddin (54) faces charges of engendering enmity under clauses 156 and 160 of the Criminal Code (maximum penalties of 4 and 6 years). Afifuddin is a popular speaker who uses the words 'dog' and 'pig' to describe pro-government people, and who says they will go to hell when they die.
Local tensions certainly play a part. Pekalongan's well-known batik industry is in decline. The town is also sharply divided between areas loyal to NU and those loyal to Muhammadiyah.
On 9 April many hundreds of PPP youths on motorcycles from Wonosobo in Central Java's highlands attacked village Golkar offices and headed for Banjarnegara before being turned back by police. They then damaged dozens of cars and looted shops, and also attacked a PPP group, injuring several. The PPP looked bad in the news. In self-defence it named 8 thugs, not PPP members, whom it claimed had been paid to lead the attack.
Other analysts agree the PPP is not entirely to blame for the unrest. National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) deputy governor Juwono Sudarsono told VOA that 'over-zealous' local Golkar officials were to blame. They pushed their supporters to take desperate measures to ensure the targeted 70% majority on 29 May. The current edition of Forum Keadilan also points the finger at Golkar for breaking unwritten rules in its attempt to chalk up victories in PPP strong holds in Central and East Java. Pekalongan was the only place in Central Java to show a PPP majority in the last election.
Who knows what psychology of fear lies behind the risky behaviour of Golkar functionaries in Central Java? Golkar careers depend on success. But one wonders why Golkar is so anxious. PPP points out that Golkar has a veritable armoury of techniques at its disposal to massage the final results. Furthermore, even if PPP were somehow to increase its showing, it would make no difference, as parliament is impotent.
Both PPP and PDI are weak. Tensions within PPP have been encouraged to such a pitch that today the PPP almost completely excludes the large Islamic organisation NU. Indeed NU chairman Gus Dur is touring PPP strong holds with Suharto's daughter Tutut in tow. The PDI, meanwhile, is a spent force after the removal of Megawati. Yet people get enthused over symbols regardless of the real-politik.
This is not the first election violence. The riot in Jakarta on 27 July last year had a similar cause. Government anxiety that the other minority party, PDI, might grow into something worth a second thought led it to intervene in ways not seen before, triggering a violent reaction.
An unofficial White Book about the Situbondo riot in East Java on 10 October last year concluded it may have been instigated by Golkar officials anxious to weaken the PPP in a strong PPP town.
If the Golkar push for victory has sometimes triggered violence, at others it has evoked more Gandhian responses.
Crowds of Megawati-PDI supporters, unwilling to accept Soerjadi whom the government placed at the head of their party, have made life impossible for Soerjadi in generally peaceful ways. Soerjadi complains he is unable to run a campaign because the police are not doing enough to stop the 'terror' of his erstwhile colleagues.
The alternate repainting of Solo's streets by Golkar and PPP in the so-called 'colour war' has raised tempers but has been conducted peacefully. (That is, assuming black magic is 'peaceful' - rumours say that Soerjadi supporter Latief Pudjosakti died in Mecca last week due to supernatural attacks by Megawati supporters).
We may well be about to witness the dirtiest election campaign since the early days of the New Order. We need to be clear about the origins of that violence.
Gerry van Klinken, editor, 'Inside Indonesia' magazine.
