ABRI briefs foreign envoys on recent riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Following foreign criticism of the government's
\nhandling of the July 27-28 riots and their aftermath, the
\nmilitary took the initiative yesterday and explained its stand on
\nthe incidents to ambassadors.<\/p>\n
"I gave them factual explanations and background to the events
\nleading up to the incidents," ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical
\nAffairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid told journalists after the two-
\nhour meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
"I am here on the request of the foreign ministry, which had
\nmany requests from foreign diplomats to explain the recent
\ndevelopments," Syarwan said.<\/p>\n
What started as a takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) headquarters by a rival faction of ousted leader Megawati
\nSoekaronputri, erupted into a mass riot on July 27 which resulted
\nin at least three deaths and the destruction of 22 buildings, 10
\nof which were burned.<\/p>\n
Disturbances continued the following day in the same area of
\nCentral Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The military has blamed a tiny student movement called the
\nDemocratic People's Party (PRD) for causing the riots.<\/p>\n
Australia, Britain and the United States have expressed
\nconcern over the headquarters takeover by the military-backed
\nbreakaway leader Soerjadi from the democratically-elected
\nMegawati, and over the rioting that followed.<\/p>\n
Twenty ambassadors attended Syarwan's briefing. Those absent
\nincluded U.S. Ambassador Stapleton Roy and Dutch Ambassador Paul
\nBrouwer. Others sent representatives or their charge d'affairs.<\/p>\n
"I got the impression that with the explanation we gave they
\nnow understand the situation and have disposed of any
\nunscrupulous misgivings," Syarwan said.<\/p>\n
During the briefing Syarwan was accompanied by the foreign
\nministry's director general for social, cultural and information
\nrelations, Djauhari Nata Atmaja.<\/p>\n
According to Indonesian officials, the ambassadors were not
\noverly critical in their comments. They queried circulating
\nissues on the death toll and the military's crackdown of PRD
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
Some, such as Ribhi Awad of Palestine, stated their support
\nfor the military's action in restoring order.<\/p>\n
According to Syarwan, Ribhi claimed that what transpired
\nduring the riots should not be equated with the intifada people's
\nuprising in Palestine. "The intifada don't attack their own armed
\nforces," Syarwan quoted the ambassador as saying.<\/p>\n
Other questions included queries on whether communism could
\nreally stage a comeback in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Syarwan clarified earlier assertions that the PRD were being
\nfunded by the Australian Labor Party, as made by spokesman of the
\nEast Java military command Lt. Col. CHB S. Soebagio last week.<\/p>\n
"The funds came not from the Labor Party but from labor
\norganizations there. We have a confession from one of the PRD
\nleaders who was arrested," he said adding that the matter is
\nstill under investigation.<\/p>\n
Separately ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, during a plenary
\nmeeting of the commanders of the Internal Security Agency,
\nstressed the importance of detecting and halting further
\ninfiltrations of organizations like the PRD in society.<\/p>\n
He underlined the need to expose connections among these
\norganizations so the nation can fortify itself against any such
\nthreats. (rms\/imn\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abri-briefs-foreign-envoys-on-recent-riots-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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