10,000 pencak silat fighters pledge to intercept rioters

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Betawi ethnic group consultative body, or Bamus Betawi, pledged on Tuesday to field 10,000 pencak silat martial art fighters ahead of the much-anticipated flood of President Abdurrahman Wahid's supporters in the next few days.

The group's secretary-general Agus A. Asenie told a media briefing that the fighters would support security authorities in maintaining peace and order in the capital.

"The fighters, who come from various martial art groups, have been told to watch over the security situation only. But they are ready to combat those attempting to incite unrest," Agus said.

Thousands of Abdurrahman's supporters from East Java, including the Defenders of Truth force, have said that they would descend on Jakarta beginning Tuesday for a mass prayer rally to be held by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex on Sunday.

The gathering precedes a House of Representatives session to decide whether to issue a second censure motion against the President, a step that may lead to the formal impeachment process.

Agus dismissed allegations that his fighters would serve as a counter force to supporters of the embattled President, who once led NU for 15 years.

"No, not in particular Abdurrahman's supporters. We will fight anybody attempting to create unrest or perpetrating anarchy.

"We have told the fighters not to take the law into their own hands, although we believe that they would be able to beat anyone. They still have to abide by the law and police on duty," Agus said.

The fighters will be deployed starting April 29 "until we all believe that Jakarta is truly safe", said Agus.

Agus said the Betawi community also strongly opposed the use of Islamic symbolism by Abdurrahman supporters as it would offend fellow Muslims who opted to stay away from the current political bickering between Abdurrahman and his opponents.

Native Jakartans, Agus said, did not want to see anybody disrupt peace in the capital.

"We also suggest to those invited to the upcoming mass gathering, that they pray at mosques or offices of their respective organizations instead. It's better than going to the mass rally in this unpredictable security situation," he said.

Another Bamus Betawi executive, Habib Idrus Hasyim Alatas, said that in principal Jakarta people could welcome any visitors as long as they did not cause trouble.

He also urged Jakartans to maintain their composure in facing Abdurrahman's supporters.

An appeal for calm also came from spokesman for the Jakarta administration, Muhayat, who called on Jakarta residents to remain calm and carry out their daily activities as usual.

Muhayat said there were no special arrangements prepared by the municipality for the visiting Abdurrahman's supporters.

"We don't know where the people will be accommodated and we don't have any plans. But we only hope that they will respect the rights of people here and refrain from causing trouble."

He suggested that Jakarta residents report to their respective neighborhood unit head if they were accommodating relatives or friends visiting the capital for the mass gathering.

"It is just a precautionary measure that would protect them from trouble if anything happened to the visitors," he said. (emf)