Officials deny rumors of unrest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country's leaders dismissed yesterday the
\nrampant rumors of impending unrest this weekend ahead of the Aug.
\n17 Independence Day celebration.<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie, Coordinating Minister for Political
\nand Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung and National Police Chief Lt.
\nGen. Roesmanhadi promoted a sense of calm and appealed to people
\nnot to be stirred by unfounded rumors.<\/p>\n
Despite the assurances, many people appear to be bracing
\nthemselves for the worst as word-of-mouth speculation has sown
\nanxiety.<\/p>\n
Travel agents in the capital reported unusually high demand
\nfor ticket reservations to overseas destination for this time of
\nyear and in the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
They refused to speculate whether the increased demand was due
\nto people seeking a safe haven or merely taking advantage of the
\nlong weekend.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces also flexed its muscle here yesterday as it
\ngathered 12,500 personnel in what it described as a routine check
\non preparations for the independence celebrations, which will
\ninclude several state ceremonies.<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie said yesterday he could understand that
\npeople may still be traumatized by the riots which hit major
\ncities in May, but maintained there was no reason to doubt the
\nsecurity status.<\/p>\n
He said people must not be influenced by baseless rumors
\nspread on the Internet or through leaflets.<\/p>\n
\"Let us jointly fight the rumors spread by irresponsible
\npeople,\" he said when meeting 100 Protestant leaders at Bina
\nGraha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Feisal Tanjung also shot down rumors of unrest as \"nonsense\".<\/p>\n
\"It is very easy to disseminate such rumors,\" he told
\nreporters prior to a weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.<\/p>\n
Major cities such Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, and Medan have
\nbeen gripped by fear of nationwide rampage around Aug. 17.<\/p>\n
Independence Day is usually marked by a gathering of
\nlegislators to listen to a presidential address, scheduled this
\nyear on Saturday.<\/p>\n
On Monday, a flag-raising ceremony will be held in the grounds
\nof Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Public events and communal gatherings have been traditional
\nmainstays of the commemoration. However, community leaders this
\nyear have subtly discouraged the public from marking the
\nanniversary.<\/p>\n
The date is customarily used as an arena by the government to
\ndisplay its successes of the previous year.<\/p>\n
With the country reeling from the worst economic crisis in its
\nhistory, the situation is completely different this year.<\/p>\n
People are also still in shock from the devastating riots
\nwhich resulted in the death of more than 1,200 people and
\ndestruction of thousands of buildings in the capital.<\/p>\n
Roesmanhadi urged people yesterday not to be agitated by
\nrumors as the police guaranteed the safety of all citizens.<\/p>\n
\"Again, I say Indonesia is safe,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Roesmanhadi admitted that some people had fled the country as
\na result of the rumors but \"those actually had nothing to fear.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman yesterday
\nmorning inspected a Jakarta Security Forces display involving
\n12,500 personnel from police, air force, marines, troops from the
\nJakarta Military Command and civilian forces.<\/p>\n
He denied the troops were deployed to anticipate possible
\nunrest and maintained they were part of the annual security
\npreparations for Independence Day.<\/p>\n
Flights<\/p>\n
Several airlines and travel agencies confirmed yesterday they
\nhad received an unusually high number of bookings. Destinations
\nto Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia were said to be in
\nhigh demand.<\/p>\n
\"It is often full on weekends. But for the next three days, it
\nhas never been that full,\" Singapore Airlines administration and
\npublic relations manager Susie Charma told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Executives at Qantas Airways and Cathay Pacific reported that
\nflights to Singapore, Hong Kong and Australian destinations are
\nalmost fully booked through Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The rush to buy tickets started Tuesday, but the flights will
\nget really full on Friday and Saturday,\" Qantas' sales and
\nmarketing executive Fonny Tedjakusmana said.<\/p>\n
Cathay Pacific Marketing Communications Manager Ida Bayuni
\nsaid yesterday \"our load factor has reached over 90 percent since
\ntoday, and will reach its peak on Friday and Saturday\".<\/p>\n
National flag carrier Garuda disclosed yesterday its
\nreservations to Hong Kong and Singapore for the next three days
\nrose by 20 percent from normal days.<\/p>\n
Pudjo Wahyono, general manager of travel agency PT Bayu Buana,
\nnoted rising orders, mostly from Chinese-Indonesians, for
\nprocessing passports and visas.<\/p>\n
\"The number of people visiting here for travel documents since
\nthe beginning of August was even higher than those who come
\nduring the high season,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But Rossi of travel agency PT Ina Media Wisatamas claimed that
\nmany of the agency's clients explained they were taking advantage
\nof the three-day holiday. (prb\/edt\/gis\/jun\/ivy)<\/p>",
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