Police warn of tense situation ahead of MPR<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country will be gripped by tension in the
\ndays leading up to the Nov. 10 to Nov. 13 Special Session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR), according to National
\nPolice chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi.<\/p>\n
\"There'll be no days without demonstrations. The situation
\nwill be lively,\" the three-star general told a meeting with
\nsenior media executives at his official residence on Jl.
\nPattimura in South Jakarta on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
He urged people from all walks of life, including the media,
\nto help the police maintain security and stability in the
\ncapital.<\/p>\n
\"Don't let irresponsible parties take the chance (to further
\ntheir own agendas).<\/p>\n
\"We have to protect the country's security and image together.
\nShould we fail, foreign investors will be reluctant to return
\nhere and help us generate economic opportunities,\" said
\nRoesmanhadi, the first National Police chief to hold the office
\nin the post-Soeharto era.<\/p>\n
He also said the rising incidence of crime brought about by
\nthe economic crisis could exacerbate the situation.<\/p>\n
\"Crime has undoubtedly been on the rise,\" he said, pointing
\nhis hands skywards. \"New jobs are hard to find.\"<\/p>\n
\"Some of our men have said they can no longer guarantee the
\nsafety of people out and about at night in certain parts of the
\ncity,\" Roesmanhadi said, giving no details.<\/p>\n
The lack of job opportunities means that many people are
\ndelighted to get paid Rp 10,000 a day to join in rallies aimed at
\nfurthering particular political agendas, he said in reference to
\nrumors that many demonstrators are apolitical hired hands.<\/p>\n
\"Nowadays, with Rp 4 billion, for example, one could assign a
\nstrong group of protesters to occupy the MPR building and thereby
\nchange the whole state administration system,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The vast MPR complex on Jl. Gatot Subroto in Central Jakarta
\nand all roads leading to it are under heavy guard by a joint
\nforce of military and police personnel assisted by thousands of
\nmembers of a number of youth organizations.<\/p>\n
Enough<\/p>\n
It seems that the security authorities do not want to see a
\nrepeat of the massive student protests that took place in May,
\nwhen tens of thousands of university students and activists
\noccupied the MPR complex for a number of days leading up to
\nSoeharto's resignation on May 21.<\/p>\n
Roesmanhadi said the police have asked the MPR to provide a
\nspecial site in the complex where demonstrations can be held.
\nThat, he explained, that would bring an end to the severe city-
\nwide traffic congestion that even minor protests now bring about.<\/p>\n
The MPR has yet to respond, he added.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Roesmanhadi also briefed media executives
\nabout the new law on freedom of expression and showed videos of
\nhow protesters hold rallies in foreign countries.<\/p>\n
\"We should build the same perception of our new law,\" he told
\nhis guests.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, executives from the broadcast media asked
\nRoesmanhadi to help protect privately-owned television stations
\nfrom the threat of mob attack.<\/p>\n
\"SCTV, TPI and RCTI have been attacked by mobs several times
\nin recent weeks,\" SCTV director Riza Primadi told the National
\nPolice chief.<\/p>\n
In response, Roesmanhadi promised to deploy men at the
\nstation's offices and broadcasting facilities.<\/p>\n
\"Just file the report with us first,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He strongly denied accusations that police had attempted to
\nclose the investigation into the controversial August 1996 murder
\nof journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, alias Udin.<\/p>\n
\"We will never close the case. I myself vow to solve the case
\nas soon as possible. But we need people to give us clues,\"
\nRoesmanhadi said.<\/p>\n
Udin was beaten unconscious in his Yogyakarta home and died
\nthree days later without ever regaining consciousness. Many
\nbelieve that he was killed for writing investigative reports
\ndetailing alleged corruption in the local bureaucracy. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-warn-of-tense-situation-ahead-of-mpr-1447893297",
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