60,000 troops to secure MPR session

JAKARTA (JP): City authorities will deploy as many as 605 companies or about 60,000 security officers to safeguard the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday.

"The joint security forces will consist of officers from the city police, the military (TNI), the People's Security (Kamra) and the City Public Order Office," Sutiyoso said after chairing a meeting of the city collective leadership at City Hall.

City police deputy chief Maj. Sutanto said the security officers would not be supplied with live bullets, but that they would be equipped with tear gas and rubber bullets.

The number of troops to be deployed this year is down on last year's deployment, when 78,000 security officers were spread throughout the city to safeguard the Special Session of the MPR.

Governor Sutiyoso called on Jakarta residents to help the city administration create a conducive and secure situation for the MPR General Session.

"We suffered a great loss during last year's mass unrest. We should not experience such unrest anymore," he said.

At least 123 buildings and 70 vehicles were damaged in incidents of mass looting and burning in the city, following the closing session of the MPR Special Session on Nov. 14, 1998.

Sutiyoso regretted the protesters' violent actions during a mass demonstration on Thursday, in which the city's green areas, lighting system, and other facilities were vandalized.

Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman called on city residents to refrain from joining any mass demonstrations during the MPR General Session, which is slated for November this year.

"Let the political elites in the MPR solve the political problems. The general public should not get involved," Djadja said.

He also called on the people to accept and support the outcome of the November presidential election.

The 700 new MPR members will take their oaths of office when the MPR General Assembly is opened next Friday. They will reconvene in November to elect a president and a vice president and endorse the State Policy Guidelines.

Djadja called on the provocateurs, who have allegedly orchestrated recent demonstrations in the city, to refrain from influencing people to join the protests.

The two-star general said the people had suffered a prolonged economic crisis and should concentrate on helping create a smooth General Session.

Djadja said people from outside the city were involved in Thursday's rally.

"They were not students. They appeared to be thin but militant people."

He said the protesters' foremost and ultimate target was to occupy the MPR/House of Representatives (DPR) building.

"The rally to protest the endorsement of the state security bill was only their intermediate target," he said. (jun)