ABRI to take harsh action against rioters

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung told security personnel yesterday to take harsh measures against anyone attempting to disrupt next month's general session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Feisal, however, advised them only to use "repressive means" as a last resort and after gentle persuasion had failed to quell any disturbance.

"You should try dialog and persuasion as much as you can when dealing with rioters," he told some 25,000 ABRI personnel specially trained to safeguard the Assembly meetings which will elect the new president.

"While honoring the state's security is your prime job, you should respect rioters' basic rights," he said, adding that security officers should stick to the principle that "what is best for the people is also best for ABRI".

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto and National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo were among the ABRI top brass who attended the grand parade at Senayan.

Feisal noted that the ongoing economic crisis brought with it a risk of unrest and this should force the military to step up its vigilance when securing the Assembly.

"In a situation like this, it is possible that national stability ahead, during and after the Assembly meetings will be disturbed" he noted.

The disturbances could take the form of street protests, radicalism and terrorism," he added.

The MPR's general assembly, scheduled for March 1 through March 11, is considered the most important event in Indonesia's five-yearly political cycle. Members of the 1,000-strong Assembly will convene to elect a president and vice president and endorse the 1998/2003 Broad Guidelines of State Policy.

Speaking about the Armed Forces' main tasks and responsibilities in securing the event, Feisal said they should not only monitor and detect any potential unrest, but also take preventive measures.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the joint force would focus not only on the site of the general assembly, but also the hotels where the assembly's participants will stay, the roads to and from the assembly site and a number of public places.

"The massive security precautions are no indication that ABRI is worried about the security of the upcoming Assembly meetings. This is only standard procedure," he said.

The joint force will involve 25,000 security officers, consisting of 15,000 police officers and 10,000 personnel from the three military branches -- the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

The force includes members of the four Armed Forces elite units: the red-bereted Army's Special Force (Kopassus), the Navy's Marine Corps, the Air Force's Special Force (Paskhas) and the police's Mobile Brigade.

Feisal made his speech after spending an hour inspecting the personnel and military equipment. He stopped often on his tour of the parade to chat with the forces.

He was accompanied by the chief of the joint safekeeping force, Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who is also the Jakarta Regional Military Commander, and the deputy chief of the joint force, Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata, who is also Jakarta Police chief.

Also in attendance were Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M., Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, Armed Forces Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Tarub and Chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command Lt. Gen. Sugiono. (imn/jun)