Security authorities gear up for upcoming major political events<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
\nSecurity Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday that the
\nsecurity authorities had taken all necessary measures to prevent
\nchaos in the capital in connection with two major political
\nevents on April 29 and April 30.<\/p>\n
"I've reported to the Vice President that the police and the
\nmilitary have put in place all preventive measures and a
\ncontingency plan to deal with any unexpected developments on both
\ndays," Susilo said after attending a coordinating meeting on
\nsecurity affairs chaired by Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Susilo was referring to the planned istighotsah (mass prayer)
\norganized by the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, and
\nthe House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session.<\/p>\n
"The police have called for a peaceful mass prayer ... and now
\nit's up to the people and the leaders whether they want to keep
\nthe capital safe or not," he said.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said he had issued
\nthe necessary orders to all police chiefs across the country and
\nhad coordinated the measures to be taken with the TNI for both
\nevents.<\/p>\n
"I have instructed all police chiefs to take resolute action
\nagainst all forms of anarchy as we (the security authorities)
\nwill never allow it to prevail," Bimantoro also said after
\nattending the meeting.<\/p>\n
He said the security authorities had been working together
\nwith the NU to prevent disturbances and would conduct raids in
\norder to maintain security.<\/p>\n
"NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi has guaranteed that all the
\nparticipants at the mass prayer meeting will return home directly
\nafter the prayer is over. However, we cannot prevent people from
\nstaying on in the capital for a few more days," Bimantoro said.<\/p>\n
He further said that no protesters would be allowed to enter
\nthe House compound on April 30, when the legislature is to
\npresent its evaluation of President Abdurrahman Wahid's reply to
\nits first memorandum of censure, and possibly issue a second
\ncensure of the President.<\/p>\n
It has been reported that thousands of Abdurrahman loyalists
\nwill throng the capital on both days to express their support for
\nthe embattled President.<\/p>\n
NU's East Java chairman Maschan Moesa, however, asserted on
\nMonday that the label "death squad" slapped on President
\nAbdurrahman's die-hard followers was "merely a political maneuver
\nby the President's political opponents".<\/p>\n
Ali said President Abdurrahman's political rivals would stop
\nat nothing to oust him, including creating "such a negative image
\nof the NU".<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman supporters have formed the Defenders of Truth
\nvolunteer force, the members of which have pledged to defend
\nAbdurrahman to the death.<\/p>\n
"(The existence of) such a force must not be exaggerated as
\nkanuragan (training so as to achieve invulnerability against
\nweapons) is common and is practiced by NU followers from time to
\ntime ... such as by the NU's Banser and Pagar Nusa civilian
\nmilitias. But Gus Dur's political opponents are taking advantage
\nof it to tarnish the NU's image," Ali said in Surabaya, referring
\nto Abdurrahman by his nickname.<\/p>\n
He further pointed out that when another Muslim task force,
\nthe Lasykar Jihad, brandished weapons in a protest at the House
\ncompound, no similar political statements had been made.<\/p>\n
Separately, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi
\nsaid on Monday that should disturbances break out during the mass
\nprayer, the police would hold the leaders of the pro-Gus Dur
\ngroups, the Istighotsah organizers, and the NU chairman
\nresponsible.<\/p>\n
"I have heard the organizers of the prayer meeting say that
\nsecurity is in the hands of the police, and that should anything
\nhappen, they could not be held responsible for it," Didi said.<\/p>\n
"Security is in our hands all right, but the organizers of the
\nprayer cannot wash their hands of any incidents that may occur
\nbefore, during or after the prayer meeting. The police will hold
\nthem to account."<\/p>\n
Didi made the statement after the chief of the Istighotsah
\norganizing committee, Manarul Hidayat, met with several senior
\nofficers of the National Police and the Jakarta Police on Monday
\nto discuss the security issue.<\/p>\n
In Bogor, the local police have established several check
\npoints with some 200 officers being assigned to monitor any
\nirregular movements of large numbers of people to the capital.<\/p>\n
"Everybody will have to go through a series of check points as
\nsome people may acquire weapons after they have passed through
\none check point," Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Taufik Ridha said
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, President Abdurrahman also said on Monday that the
\ncountry is at a critical juncture but that its problems can be
\novercome.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for four new ambassadors,
\nAbdurrahman called on the envoys, "to explain to the outside
\nworld that the situation is still stable and the government's
\ndetermination (to maintain order) has not diminished."<\/p>\n
The four were the new Indonesian Ambassador to Australia,
\nSudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, to the United Nations, Makmur Widodo,
\nto China, A. Kustia, and to Rumania, Toto Soegiharto.<\/p>\n
"We are currently negotiating with the IMF (International
\nMonetary Fund) to get a final outcome. The rupiah is now
\nweakening but hopefully that can be settled as soon as possible,"
\nhe said. (21\/byg\/dja\/edt\/nur\/ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/security-authorities-gear-up-for-upcoming-major-political-events-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}