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)