'Security for MPR session still led by Gen. Bimantoro'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National Police deputy of operations Insp. Gen.
\nSyachroeddin Pagar Alam said on Saturday that as chief of police
\noperations for the Special Session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly, he still answered to Gen. Surojo Bimantoro.<\/p>\n
"The police security operations Mantap Brata VIII, began on
\nTuesday and will most likely last until the end of the Special
\nSession, depending on the situation. But since this operation was
\noverseen and started by Gen. Bimantoro, I still have to answer to
\nhim directly," Syachroeddin told a media conference at National
\nPolice Headquarters.<\/p>\n
As for the installation of Gen. Chaeruddin Ismail as caretaker
\nNational Police chief on Friday, Syachroeddin said that there was
\nnothing to worry about as any police chief would uphold all plans
\nwhich had already been discussed and prepared for execution.<\/p>\n
"The National Police will provide security for all the
\nactivities of the legislature and the executive," he added.<\/p>\n
A top police general who requested anonymity told The Jakarta
\nPost on Saturday that should chaos occur during the Special
\nSession, Bimantoro would ultimately take responsibility.<\/p>\n
The National Police, however, remained eclipsed by dualism in
\nits leadership on Saturday stemming from the dismissal of
\nBimantoro by President Abdurrahman Wahid and the appointment of
\nChaeruddin as caretaker police chief on Friday evening.<\/p>\n
Chaeruddin on Saturday denied rumors that a reshuffle within
\npolice ranks would take place within days, particularly of those
\ngenerals who had been vocal about Chaeruddin's appointment.<\/p>\n
"There is no such (reshuffle) thing," Chaeruddin told
\nreporters upon his arrival at the National Police Headquarters on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Bimantoro sent Chaeruddin a huge bouquet of orchids and a note
\nof congratulations on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Chaeruddin added that there was no need to take firm action
\nagainst police officers, including generals, who had a
\n"difference of opinion" over the National Police leadership
\nissue.<\/p>\n
"Any differences can be bridged by meeting and talking ... why
\nshould I take stern action on people who hold different
\nopinions?," he said.<\/p>\n
"I've met with the generals and spoken with them. There's no
\nproblem. I also plan to meet with lower-ranking officers as
\nwell."<\/p>\n
He added he did not need the symbolic staff-of-command to do
\nhis job as caretaker National Police Chief.<\/p>\n
The command baton is normally handed over by an outgoing
\npolice chief to a newly installed police chief in an official
\nceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters.<\/p>\n
The handover ceremony held by the police force is normally
\nseen as a public declaration of who officially leads the force.<\/p>\n
Gen. Bimantoro currently holds the command baton.<\/p>\n
"The baton is only a symbol ... a habit. I can still do the
\njob without it," Chaeruddin told reporters.<\/p>\n
Separately on Saturday, city police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan
\nJacob assured people that the Glodok electronics center in West
\nJakarta would be provided security to prevent a possible
\nrepetition of the destruction that hit the area during the May
\n1998 riots.<\/p>\n
"Shop owners also have their own security guards and the city
\nadministration has also deployed their public order officers to
\nsecure the area," Sofjan said, after a visit to the area with
\ncity military commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo and Governor
\nSutiyoso.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the city seemed undeterred by the political tension
\nthat was rising on Saturday. Life generally proceeded as usual.<\/p>\n
Military and police officers could be seen at several key
\nlocations as a level 1 alert had been imposed across the capital.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday night, clubgoers still packed the pubs and
\ndiscotheques around the city, such as the Musro in Hotel
\nBorobudur, Central Jakarta, where dozens of people even had to
\nqueue outside.<\/p>\n
As of Saturday, shopping centers like Plaza Senayan in Central
\nJakarta were jam packed with visitors. They seemed immune to the
\npolitical uncertainty.<\/p>\n
"There have been too many rumors that riots will occur but
\nnothing happened. So, why should we worry too much?" said a
\nhousewife named Lita.<\/p>\n
People also crowded supermarkets like Carrefour in Ratu Plaza
\nas they regularly do on weekends.<\/p>\n
"To hell with the President and the Assembly. They don't care
\nabout the people in this country who are suffering," one shopper
\nremarked.(ylt\/hdn)<\/p>",
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