Party supporters urged not to flock to Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman
\ncalled on Tuesday on people living outside Jakarta, especially
\nsupporters of political parties, to temporarily refrain from
\nentering the capital while the General Session of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) was in progress.<\/p>\n
\"We fear that there will be friction among supporters of
\npolitical parties. It's therefore better for them to stay home
\nand watch the Assembly's session from there,\" Noegroho told
\nreporters after inspecting the preparation of some 6,200 joint
\nsecurity personnel and civilian security groups.<\/p>\n
The two-star general said he also had counterparts in the
\nnearby provinces of Lampung, West Java, Central Java and East
\nJava help prevent those residents from coming to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Noegroho also said he would not allow any political party task
\nforce or other security volunteer group to arm themselves or
\ndirectly safeguard the security process of the Assembly.<\/p>\n
\"They will be accompanied by police officers,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Participants in Tuesday's ceremony at the Senayan parking lot
\nin Central Jakarta consisted of 14 battalions of police, four
\nbattalions and one company of military personnel, three companies
\nof public office officials and four battalions of civilian
\nsecurity forces, including those from political parties and the
\nPeople's Security force (Kamra).<\/p>\n
\"Do your duty according to the law, with sympathy and without
\nhurting people's hearts,\" Noegroho read from the instructions of
\nNational Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi.<\/p>\n
The overall situation in and around the capital was normal as
\nof Tuesday.<\/p>\n
A clash between 200 protesting students and security forces
\ntook place in the afternoon near the campus of privately run
\nSahid University in Tebet, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
At least six police officers and a student were slightly
\ninjured in the clash after students forced their way through the
\nAssembly building, pelting stones and Molotov cocktails toward
\nsecurity forces, South Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Satrya Harry
\nPrasetya said.<\/p>\n
Satrya said the rally held by the students was not legal as
\nthey failed to notify police in advance as is required by law.
\nBut no students were detained, he added.<\/p>\n
Separately, a number of groups, mostly supporters of
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nchairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, dominated the Hotel Indonesia
\ntraffic circle in Central Jakarta by staging noisy but peaceful
\nrallies.<\/p>\n
A member of the group brought a van loaded with a generator
\nand a sound system.<\/p>\n
\"Should Megawati fail to be elected, there will be a
\nrevolution,\" shouted activist Pius Lustrilanang, who was once
\nkidnapped during the New Order era.<\/p>\n
After the first group of some 200 people disbanded, another
\nconsisting of 1,500, who claimed they were from several parts of
\nJakarta and other outlying areas, packed the circle and the
\nstreet.<\/p>\n
The groups displayed a piece of white cloth and another in red
\nwith a length of 100 meters and 500 meters respectively, both
\nfilled with the signatures of Megawati's supporters. One cloth,
\nthey said, was signed with the blood of supporters.<\/p>\n
Before their arrival, some 100 students of the University of
\nIndonesia rallied at the site, demanding significant changes to
\nthe country's Constitution and an immediate trial for former
\npresident Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The city's business and shopping centers were open as usual.<\/p>\n
University campuses were also open.<\/p>\n
The capital is reportedly packed with people from areas
\noutside the city who have come to support their favorite
\ncandidate in the presidential election next Wednesday. (jun\/bsr)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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