Banser members flood Jakarta<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Huge numbers of Banser civilian militiamen have
\narrived in Jakarta from East Java to safeguard the People's
\nConsultative Assembly's (MPR) Annual Session, despite an official
\nban.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the East Java provincial chapter of the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB) Choirul Anam revealed here on Wednesday
\nthat hundreds of Banser members were now in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"They are staying at their relatives' homes in the capital,
\nwatching the situation. They are ready to move upon orders to
\nsafeguard the session,\" Choirul said.<\/p>\n
The Banser is a civilian militia controlled by the youth wing
\nof the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, which is a
\nstaunch supporter of President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Choirul, former East Java Banser commander, said they (Banser
\nmembers) had come to Jakarta on their own initiative. \"They are
\nEast Javanese people who want to go the capital of the republic.
\nShould we stop them?\"<\/p>\n
The first batch of the group arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Many officials, including National Police chief Gen.
\nRusdihardjo, have appealed to political and religious
\norganizations not to deploy their militiamen during the annual
\nsession, from Aug. 7 to Aug. 18.<\/p>\n
The East Java chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P) vowed to send thousands of members of its Satgas
\ncivilian militia to Jakarta for the same purpose. PDI-P is
\nchaired by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Adrianus Harsono, a chairman of the East Java chapter of the
\nPDI-P, said Satgas commander Susilo Muslim would lead the group.
\nHe declined to say when the civilian militiamen would leave
\nSurabaya for Jakarta.<\/p>\n
On the possibility of violence between rival militia men,
\nHarsono said the PKB and the PDI-P had reached an agreement a
\nlong time ago. \"There will be no violence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Choirul said that members of the party's civilian militia did
\nnot represent the NU. \"They are in Jakarta at their own expense.
\nWe guarantee they will not do anything awful to disturb the
\nsession.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile East Java Governor Imam Utomo said that he would not
\nbe responsible for anything resulting from the deployment of the
\ncivilian militia.<\/p>\n
\"This will be destructive. I will not be held responsible. I
\nknow nothing about that,\" the governor said. (nur\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/banser-members-flood-jakarta-1447893297",
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