Police identify hardliners threatening MPR session<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb said on Tuesday
\nthe police had identified several radical groups that might
\nthreaten the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session,
\nwhich is slated for Nov. 1 to Nov. 8.<\/p>\n
\"We've identified several hardliner groups that might
\naggressively pursue their demands during the MPR session,\" Sofjan
\ntold the press after a parade of police officers to secure the
\nannual meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly here on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
His comments were a reference to the radical groups that are
\ninsisting on the inclusion of the Jakarta Charter in the 1945
\nConstitution, but he declined to name the groups.<\/p>\n
Discussion on the inclusion of the Jakarta Charter in the 1945
\nConstitution re-emerged in September when Vice President Hamzah
\nHaz, who also chairs the United Development Party (PPP), said in
\na statement that the inclusion would not threaten non-Islamic
\nreligions in the country.<\/p>\n
But the proposal was rejected by the major parties, Golkar and
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).
\nIndonesia's two largest Muslim organizations -- Nadhatul Ulama
\n(NU) and Muhammadiyah -- also rejected the charter's
\nimplementation, saying that it would only provoke religious
\ndisharmony.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Charter, intended to form the basis of the
\nPreamble to the 1945 Constitution, attracted considerable debate
\nat the time over the wording \"obliging its followers to exercise
\nIslamic laws\". The charter was later dropped from the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
Sofjan said the police would keep an eye on the radical groups
\nand pledged to take stern measures if their protests led to
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
\"The police will allow them to express their opinions as long
\nas they do not resort to anarchy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sofjan said, however, that the police would carry out any
\nstern actions properly and in accordance with the existing law.<\/p>\n
The police will be deploying around 42,000 personnel to
\nsafeguard the Assembly session.<\/p>\n
The question of possible disturbances during the Assembly
\nsession was raised by National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro
\nduring the coordinating meeting on political and security affairs
\non Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We have indications that certain groups might try to disrupt
\nthe session, which has as its agenda the amending of the 1945
\nConstitution. They will especially be demanding the insertion of
\nSyariat Islam (Islamic law) into the Constitution,\" State
\nMinister for Communications and Information Syamsul Mu'arif told
\nreporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"Even though the National Police chief has ensured that the
\npolice would secure the event, he told us that they were facing
\nfinancial problems as the Assembly's secretary-general has yet to
\ndisburse the funds for securing the event,\" he said.<\/p>\n
When asked how much the police were asking for to provide
\nsecurity at the event, Syamsul said: \"Ask the Assembly.\"<\/p>\n
Syamsul also refused to identify the groups that might try to
\ndisrupt the Assembly session.<\/p>\n
The meeting, chaired by Coordinating Minister for Political
\nand Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was also attended
\nby, among others, Coordinating Minister for the Economy
\nDorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul
\nDjalil, and the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s Chief of General
\nAffairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago,<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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