Police Set to Avert Possible Clash over Golkar Faction Chamber

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The police have deployed its personnel to avert a possible fight between cadres of the Golkar Party from Agung Laksono’s camp against those of Aburizal Bakrie’s over the party’s faction chamber in Nusantara I Building at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday afternoon.

Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Hendro Pandowo was seen among the police members in the building, accompanied by Tanah Abang  Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Harry Sulistiyo and his aides.

Hendro said the security measures around the faction chamber was relatively normal, adding that he had dispatched around 200 police personnel and 96 House internal security people to safeguard the complex.

“This is normal, but we are ready to help if asked,” Hendro said at the Golkar faction’s chamber on Friday.

The situation around the party’s chamber has been tense since Tuesday, with beefed up security around the rooms of the party’s faction chief, Ade Komarudin, and the faction’s secretary,  Bambang Soesatyo.

Tanah Abang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Harry Sulistiyo said the police deployed its personnel in light of a recent ultimatum by Agung’s Golkar faction chief Agus Gumiwang, who said he would take over the party’s chamber and given Ade and Bambang until Friday at 2 p.m. to vacate the chamber.

“This is just a normal inspection, but I’m standing by because of this situation,” Harry told Tempo in the chamber.

Until this afternoon, there has been no sign yet that Agung’s camp would try to seize the chamber. The camp’s executive council’s law division chief Lawrence Siburian his side would take action if Aburizal’s camp failed to heed to ultimatum.

“Let’s just wait. We will do something. Just stand by,” he said. 

PUTRI ADITYOWATI