Police to hunt for weapons ahead of House session<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Police announced on Thursday they
\nwould take proactive measures to prevent violence in the streets
\nwhen the House of Representatives meets on April 30 to discuss a
\nsecond memorandum of censure against President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara said
\nsome 7,600 officers would be deployed throughout the capital to
\nsweep for weapons.<\/p>\n
After meeting with Governor Sutiyoso at City Hall, Makbul said
\nthe main target of the operation would be people from outside the
\ncapital. \"We will not target the people, but their sharp
\nweapons,\" he added.<\/p>\n
He said officers would be deployed to many of the capital's
\nentry points, such as railway stations and harbors.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people from East Java have pledged to travel to
\nthe capital to support the embattled President, who could be
\nhanded a second memorandum of censure for his alleged role in two
\nfinancial scandals.<\/p>\n
A wave of demonstrations by supporters and critics of
\nAbdurrahman rolled through the city prior to the House's first
\ncensure of the President on Feb. 1.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said on Thursday the weapons searches would
\nnot only target people from East Java, which is Abdurrahman's
\nstronghold, but also Jakarta residents.<\/p>\n
\"The operation is meant to ensure there is not repeat of the
\nMay 1998 riots,\" Sutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso also said he had asked his East Java, Central Java
\nand West Java counterparts to urge Abdurrahman's supporters not
\nto travel to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, there were a number of small demonstrations in the
\ncapital on Thursday.<\/p>\n
More than 20 students from the Student Union of Indonesian
\nAdministration Association gathered in front of the Supreme Court
\non Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta. The demonstrators
\nurged the court to dissolve the Golkar Party for its past crimes,
\nand demanded that former president Soeharto and his cronies be
\nput on trial.<\/p>\n
The students spray painted graffiti on the front gate of the
\ncourt and delivered speeches before dispersing at about 3 p.m.,
\nafter handing a written statement to a representative of the
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, dozens of Acehnese activists gathered at
\nthe United States Embassy on Jl. Merdeka Selatan, also in Central
\nJakarta. The members of the Antiviolence Youth and Student Front
\ndemanded the U.S. government mediate in the Aceh conflict.<\/p>\n
The activists also urged the Free Aceh Movement and Indonesian
\nsecurity forces to \"hold their fire\". The demonstration proceeded
\npeacefully under the watchful eyes of a number of police
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
And members of the Bolaang Mongondow Potential Assessment
\nForum rallied in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs and
\nRegional Autonomy to protest the shooting of seven people on
\nMonday. The seven were shot when police moved in to end a
\ndemonstration against the election of Marlina Moha Siahaan as the
\nregent of Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
The group also demanded Minister of Home Affairs and Regional
\nAutonomy Surjadi Soedirdja annul the election, though they did
\nnot say why they opposed the election of Marlina. (bby\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-to-hunt-for-weapons-ahead-of-house-session-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}