Reactions on plan to set up riot alert centers continue<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More support is pouring for the government's
\nplan to set up "alert command centers", at each of the over 240
\ndistrict military commands, to monitor and prevent unrest.<\/p>\n
Moestahid Astari of the ruling Golkar and Soerjadi of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI), as well as military analyst
\nYahya Muhaimin of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta,
\nseparately welcomed the plan. A less supportive stance was voiced
\nby military analyst J. Kristiadi, and a Yogyakarta Legal Aid
\nInstitute activist who questioned the legal basis for
\nestablishing the centers.<\/p>\n
The idea was first aired by President Soeharto when he met
\nlast week with managers of cooperatives of the Islamic boarding
\nschools (pesantren), as a solution to the episodes of violence
\nthat occurred recently in various parts of the country. He raised
\nthe issue again earlier this week, and the Armed Forces promptly
\nresponded saying the centers would soon be established.<\/p>\n
The centers will be entrusted with the task of monitoring
\nrumors that could spell trouble, and forwarding reports to the
\nrelevant authorities.<\/p>\n
Moestahid, however, said government officials entrusted with
\noperating the centers should not "overact".<\/p>\n
He suggested the centers be manned not only by military
\nmembers and local administrators, but also community leaders.<\/p>\n
Moestahid appeased concerns that the centers might resemble
\nthe now defunct Operation Command for Law and Order Restoration
\n(Kopkamtib), which grew to be a feared body.<\/p>\n
"That could not be true. The centers will surely be different
\nfrom the Kopkamtib. This (people's concern) means that steps
\nshould be taken to inform the people about the centers, so that
\nits actions later will not create suspicion," said Moestahid,
\nreported Antara.<\/p>\n
Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono also dismissed the
\npossibility of the centers resembling Kopkamtib. He said the
\ncenters would be there to serve people in many ways, not just
\nsecurity.<\/p>\n
"With the centers, the public will have a place where they can
\nreport on many things, including security, economic, social and
\ncultural problems and even politics," he was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
Hartono said the centers would be manned by security officers
\nand local administrators, as well as ulemas, intellectuals and
\ncommunity leaders.<\/p>\n
Voicing a similar opinion was Soerjadi, the government-
\nrecognized chairman of PDI. However, he underlined the need for
\n"careful consideration so that people can actively take part (in
\nthe centers) and not be suspicious of it".<\/p>\n
"Efforts should be made so that people don't ask 'is this
\ncountry in such a state of semi-emergency that the centers are
\nneeded'," he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's instruction to establish the National Alert Command
\nCenter was issued in the wake of the racist and sectarian
\nviolence in East Java, West Java and West Kalimantan last year
\nand earlier this month.<\/p>\n
A number of observers, including Moslem scholars, have blamed
\nthe fatal riots on the social and economic gaps which they say
\nleaves people prone to violence. Amien described these people,
\nfed up with the corruption of powerful figures' and their own
\neconomic problems, as dry wood that could easily be ignited by
\nrumors playing up sectarian differences.<\/p>\n
Separately, Yahya Muhaimin agreed the centers were needed. But
\nhe said it was even more important that they were responsive to
\npeople's aspirations and grievances.<\/p>\n
"This is necessary. On the other hand, if the centers only
\nplay on people's suspicions, then they will only cause more
\nsocial unrest," he said.<\/p>\n
The dean of Gadjah Mada University's School of Social and
\nPolitical Sciences said the centers "should become the
\ngovernment's most sensitive instrument, sensing people's demands
\nand grievances before it's too late".<\/p>\n
In addition, the center should monitor local officials'
\nbehavior lest they trigger unrest, he said.<\/p>\n
Yahya was referring to the riot in Tasikmalaya, West Java,
\nlate December which was triggered by police mistreatment of three
\nlocal Moslem teachers.<\/p>\n
Need<\/p>\n
Military analyst J. Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies said he did not see a need for the centers.<\/p>\n
"I think there is no need to have alert centers. We already
\nhave both military and civil intelligence services, right from
\nJakarta to small villages across the country," he said.<\/p>\n
"What we should do now is increase the capability of those
\nworking in intelligence. They should be better able to sense the
\nsmall problems that could become big," he said.<\/p>\n
Kristiadi believed the President's plan to establish the
\ncenters was more of rap over the knuckles of Indonesia's existing
\nintelligence for its less than satisfactory performance.<\/p>\n
Budi Hartono of the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute questioned
\nThursday the legal and constitutional basis for establishing the
\ncenters.<\/p>\n
"Establishing the centers without a clear legal basis is
\nagainst the logic of law and the principle of state of law," Budi
\nHartono said. (23\/08)<\/p>",
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