MORE than 100 people were injured yesterday when hundreds of troops and riot police clashed here with supporters of the opposition Indonesian Democracy Party (PDI).
The violence erupted as a rebel faction of the party, with the support and blessing of the government, opened a congress in Medan, north Sumatra, aimed at ousting PDI leader, Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri.
At least 3,000 Megawati supporters tried to march to the Indonesian national monument part of a huge square in Jakarta but were diverted away by police.
Police and military threw a triple cordon across the street near the Gambir central railway station to block the marchers but were pelted with stones and violently pushed back. The authorities then regrouped and charged clubbing demonstrators and pursuing them down side streets. Some protesters had bloodied faces from head injuries.
At least three journalists from local magazines and a sound recorder from the US based CNN were injured in the clashes.
Others, including a policeman, were run down by PDI cars which were trying to flee the area. The violence occurred despite an appeal for discipline and self restraint from Ms Megawati to supporters as they set off.
"Today is a day of tragedy for democracy", Ms Megawati said, referring to the rival faction's congress in Medan. The PDI leadership on Wednesday announced the expulsion of the 16 rebel party executives and declared the congress illegal.
The Home Affairs Minister, Mr Yogie Suardi Memed, who opened the congress meeting, said the government believed the congress was the "best way" to solve the party's "internal problems", a conference source said in Medan.
The source also quoted the Military Chief, Gen Feisal Tanjung, as telling the congress that the armed forces supported "every constitutional action, including the government's policy to restore the image, integrity and unity of the party.
State television news made no mention of the riot but showed interviews and reports from the Medan congress.
The ruling Golkar party, which has won each of the five past elections since 1971, the Muslim oriented United Development Party and PDI are the only three parties recognised by the Indonesian state.