E. Java to deploy 33,000 security personnel to prevent chaos<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): East Java will deploy 33,000 military and
\npolice personnel in an all-out effort to prevent chaos in the
\nprovince before, during and after the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) special session in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Sutanto said here on
\nWednesday that the decision was made in a coordination meeting
\nheld at the East Java Police Headquarters earlier in the day.<\/p>\n
East Java Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, Eastern
\nNaval Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Wahyu, and all police and
\nmilitary chiefs at the regency level attended the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"We'll do our best to prevent chaos before, during and after
\nthe special session,\" Sutanto said.<\/p>\n
\"When the House of Representatives issued its first and second
\ncensure motion against President Abdurrahman Wahid in February
\nand May respectively, we deployed only 17,000 personnel. But now,
\ndue to various reasons, we have decided to deploy 33,000
\npersonnel. They are from the police Mobile Brigade, Army
\nStrategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), Navy and the Air Force.\"<\/p>\n
\"Some of the police officers to be deployed in East Java will
\ncome from Bali, Central Java and Jakarta. If necessary, Lampung
\nPolice Headquarters is also ready to help us with its personnel.\"<\/p>\n
East Java is known as the stronghold of die-hard supporters of
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid who is the former chairman of
\nNahdlatul Ulama and founder of the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB).<\/p>\n
At least 100 people, claiming to represent ulemas and the
\npeople from Sidoarjo, a neighboring town of Surabaya,
\ndemonstrated on Monday to voice their support for Abdurrahman's
\nplan to declare a state of emergency and reject the Assembly's
\nspecial session slated for Aug. 1.<\/p>\n
According to Sutanto, key public facilities, including railway
\nand bus stations, radio and television stations, and airports and
\nseaports, which are vulnerable to attacks will be the focus of
\nthe security operation. \"Sweeping operations will be conducted at
\nthese places,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Regarding the plan by some of Abdurrahman's supporters to go
\nto Jakarta on the day of the special session, Sutanto said he
\nwould have it (the plan) canceled. \"Or they must promise they
\nwill not participate in any anarchic actions in Jakarta.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile East Java Military chief Maj. Gen. Sudi Silalahi
\nsaid his troops were ready to back up the police.<\/p>\n
\"We have been informed that several vital facilities,
\nincluding the coal power plant in Probolinggo, have been targeted
\nfor attack by certain groups of people. We will safeguard the
\nspecial session at all cost,\" he said. (nur\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-java-to-deploy-33000-security-personnel-to-prevent-chaos-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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