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Tensions escalate at PAN congress
The second day of the National Mandate Party's (PAN) national congress on Sunday was marked by a descent into physical violence ahead of a chairmanship election scheduled for Monday
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he second day of the National Mandate Party's (PAN) national congress on Sunday was marked by a descent into physical violence ahead of a chairmanship election scheduled for Monday.
Muhammad Rafi Ginting, head of PAN's branch in Kabanjahe, North Sumatra, suffered a head injury after apparently having a chair thrown him when he questioned the list of official delegates holding voting rights in the chairmanship election.
The incident took place during a closed-door session on Sunday slated to comprehensively discuss the party's internal rulings and election rules.
The list is said to have been amended recently, excluding eight delegates from North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara.
"The victim had a Zulkifli pin on his T-shirt. That sparked some tension but hopefully things will get better," PAN deputy secretary-general Lasmi Aspar said.
The session was postponed for hours to allow the rival camps backing Hatta Radjasa and Zulkifli Hasan to resolve the matter.
The 593 participants representing the party's executive board, provincial chapters, regency and municipal branches have been divided into two factions supporting incumbent chairman Hatta and Zulkifli, respectively.
