Abdurrahman supporters vow more chaos
Abdurrahman supporters vow more chaos
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of impassioned supporters of President
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid marched from the National Monument to
the House of Representatives, recited prayers, broke down the
gates and stormed into the compound.
Coming from various action groups, the people vowed to create
further chaos in the provinces, should the House call for a
special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to
impeach the President.
They also called for the dissolution of the House, which had
initiated the move toward impeachment by issuing memorandums of
censure against the President.
"We are devoted to Gus Dur till the day we die. The House must
be dissolved," an speaker shouted through his megaphone, while
thousands of supporters cheered him on, and extra-tight police
and military security forces stood by.
Thousands of police and military officers were deployed in the
vicinity of the House building during the day.
When the protesters managed to break into the compound of the
House, scores of police officers immediately donned anti-riot
gear, formed a human barricade and fired tear gas at the
protesters to stop them in their tracks.
The House is protected by a hollow fiberglass wall filled with
tons of water that was constructed months ago when members of the
"ready-to-die" squads supporting Abdurrahman reportedly managed
to break through barbed wire barricades, set up to stop
protesters from entering the House compound.
City police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob declared that should
the supporters continue toward the House building, his officers
would not hesitate to fire at them.
"My officers know when to shoot. I don't need to instruct
them," Sofjan told reporters at the scene.
"We have water cannon and tear gas to stop the protesters. If
they persist, we will use rubber bullets ... if they remain
stubborn and move toward the House, they will be shot at, using
live bullets."
The supporters of Abdurrahman began Wednesday's protest at the
National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta, then marched
to the House compound along Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.
They demanded that the people behind the House's call for an
MPR special session, like House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and MPR
Speaker Amien Rais, be put on trial.
Upon reaching the House, the Abdurrahman supporters waved
green flags and carried cloth banners with slogans such as, "If
the DPR declares an MPR special session, Indonesia will cry tears
of blood."
Their coordinators stood on trucks, trying to control their
supporters by shouting into their megaphones.
While coordinators of the groups were seen buying soft drinks
and cigarettes for their men, the supporters said they had sold
their valuables and assets to make the trip to Jakarta to fight
for their beloved leader. They came from several parts of West
and East Java, such as Sampang, Jember, Pasuruan, Sumenep,
Bondowoso, Banyuwangi, Bekasi, and Purwakarta.
After 6 p.m., Abdurrahman's supporters left the House building
for the presidential palace in Central Jakarta, to press the
President to dissolve the House.
As the crowds left for the presidential palace, city police
spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam told The Jakarta Post that
police had already negotiated with the protesters.
"They will only stage a protest at the National Monument
(Monas) park, and after that, they will head home. That's it,"
Anton said. (ylt/nvn/01)
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of impassioned supporters of President
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid marched from the National Monument to
the House of Representatives, recited prayers, broke down the
gates and stormed into the compound.
Coming from various action groups, the people vowed to create
further chaos in the provinces, should the House call for a
special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to
impeach the President.
They also called for the dissolution of the House, which had
initiated the move toward impeachment by issuing memorandums of
censure against the President.
"We are devoted to Gus Dur till the day we die. The House must
be dissolved," an speaker shouted through his megaphone, while
thousands of supporters cheered him on, and extra-tight police
and military security forces stood by.
Thousands of police and military officers were deployed in the
vicinity of the House building during the day.
When the protesters managed to break into the compound of the
House, scores of police officers immediately donned anti-riot
gear, formed a human barricade and fired tear gas at the
protesters to stop them in their tracks.
The House is protected by a hollow fiberglass wall filled with
tons of water that was constructed months ago when members of the
"ready-to-die" squads supporting Abdurrahman reportedly managed
to break through barbed wire barricades, set up to stop
protesters from entering the House compound.
City police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob declared that should
the supporters continue toward the House building, his officers
would not hesitate to fire at them.
"My officers know when to shoot. I don't need to instruct
them," Sofjan told reporters at the scene.
"We have water cannon and tear gas to stop the protesters. If
they persist, we will use rubber bullets ... if they remain
stubborn and move toward the House, they will be shot at, using
live bullets."
The supporters of Abdurrahman began Wednesday's protest at the
National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta, then marched
to the House compound along Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.
They demanded that the people behind the House's call for an
MPR special session, like House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and MPR
Speaker Amien Rais, be put on trial.
Upon reaching the House, the Abdurrahman supporters waved
green flags and carried cloth banners with slogans such as, "If
the DPR declares an MPR special session, Indonesia will cry tears
of blood."
Their coordinators stood on trucks, trying to control their
supporters by shouting into their megaphones.
While coordinators of the groups were seen buying soft drinks
and cigarettes for their men, the supporters said they had sold
their valuables and assets to make the trip to Jakarta to fight
for their beloved leader. They came from several parts of West
and East Java, such as Sampang, Jember, Pasuruan, Sumenep,
Bondowoso, Banyuwangi, Bekasi, and Purwakarta.
After 6 p.m., Abdurrahman's supporters left the House building
for the presidential palace in Central Jakarta, to press the
President to dissolve the House.
As the crowds left for the presidential palace, city police
spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam told The Jakarta Post that
police had already negotiated with the protesters.
"They will only stage a protest at the National Monument
(Monas) park, and after that, they will head home. That's it,"
Anton said. (ylt/nvn/01)