Olympic Open to go on as scheduled despite security fears<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Organizers said on Tuesday the Rp 350 million
\n(US$30,000) 2001 Olympic Open golf tournament would go ahead as
\nscheduled from July 31 to Aug. 3 at the Taman Dayu golf course in
\nPandaan, East Java, despite security concerns.<\/p>\n
\"We have received the green light from local authorities to
\nhold the tournament as scheduled. Security authorities have also
\nprovided the necessary security arrangements,\" the chairman of
\nthe organizing committee, Eddy Gunawan, said during a media
\nconference on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We are also providing special accommodations in Taman Dayu
\nfor foreign golfers so they have direct access to the course,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The People's Consultative Assembly is scheduled to hold a
\nspecial session on Aug. 1 to demand President Abdurrahman Wahid
\naccount for his rule.<\/p>\n
There are fears that the President's supporters will hold
\nviolent rallies before, during and after the session. This is
\nespecially true in East Java, where the President enjoys his
\nstrongest support.<\/p>\n
Taman Dayu general manager Hausman T. Babu said the local
\nauthorities had discussed these security concerns.<\/p>\n
\"Since the local authorities said it was OK to continue as
\nplanned, we don't think there is a problem. Especially since past
\nriots have taught us all to act more mature.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, the golf course can only be reached via a three-
\nkilometer-long access road from the highway, and is located at
\nthe foot of Welirang mountain,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the Indonesian Professional Golf
\nAssociation (PGPI), Oong Wiradinata, said he expected an
\nIndonesian golfer would win the tournament.<\/p>\n
\"Swede Stephen Atako-Lindskog grabbed the maiden title in 1999
\nwhile Wan Ter Chiang from Chinese Taipei won in 2000,\" he said.
\n\"It's time for one of our own golfers to win the tournament.\"<\/p>\n
Maan Nasim became the first Indonesian to win a title this
\nyear, triumphing at the Bukit Darmo Open at the Bukit Darmo golf
\ncourse in Surabaya in April.<\/p>\n
Sanusi followed his lead by winning the Japan Jagorawi Golf
\nFoundation Open at the Jagorawi Golf and Country Club in Bogor in
\nMay.<\/p>\n
Four members of Indonesia's Southeast Asian Games golf team,
\nwho will compete in Kuala Lumpur in September, hope to use the
\ntournament as a warm-up for the Games. They are Indra Hermawan,
\nIin Setiawan, Inam Zarems and Suprapto.<\/p>\n
The golfers, however, first must pass a qualifying school held
\non July 30 before they can participate in the event. (nvn)<\/p>",
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