ABRI to take harsh action against rioters

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)