Certain parties accused of stirring social discord

Certain parties accused of stirring social discord

JAKARTA (JP): City Military commander Maj. Gen. Djadja
Suparman has warned Jakartans of the existence of certain parties
who have been attempting to spread rumors and terror in the
capital to create social unrest.

Addressing a crowd of Betawi (native Jakartans) people
Saturday at the Padepokan Pencak Silat center in Taman Mini
Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta, Djadja said the parties are trying
to sow discord among the people and the Armed Forces (ABRI).

"This situation is almost similar with that in 1965," he said,
referring to the year when the people and ABRI faced a difficult
time with the presence of the banned Indonesian Communist Party.

Djadja added: "ABRI has noticed that the parties are trying to
keep us from the people and to separate the people from certain
social classes."

"If it continues, our country will fall," he said.

One of the rumors spread by the irresponsible parties was that
women should avoid using taxis unless they wanted to be sexually
harassed or raped, Djadja said.

The group, he said, has also circulated leaflets concerning a
planned mass riot to happen a few days before the country
celebrate Independence Day on Aug. 17.

"We have to be cautious over such rumors. But the Betawi
people should not have to be scared," the two-star general said.

He admitted that security personnel could not stop people from
creating and spreading rumors.

But, he said, he has deployed his personnel to track down the
parties.

"We haven't yet tracked down these people because it's very
difficult to get the leaflets. I ask you to share information on
that," Djadja said.

He also called on the Betawi people to join hands with ABRI
and other groups in society to secure the capital.

"We have to unite to safeguard Jakarta. Don't let us distance
ourselves by setting up groups based on our ethnic backgrounds,
such as Sumatra or Sulawesi," he said.

Djadja also appealed to the crowd to stay vigilant over
certain parties who were trying to detach themselves from the
united country and were demanding to establish their own states.

"There are parties who have tried to separate themselves from
Indonesia, such as those who want a free Irian or Aceh. We have
to be aware of them," he said.

"We have to be able to decide what we should accept or reject,
and what is the priority for this nation," he said.

Also present at the ceremony were chairman of the Betawi
Forum, Lt. Gen. (ret) Edy Marzuki Nalapraya, and deputy governor
for people's welfare M. Djailani.

After the speech, Djadja handed over two tons of rice to the
forum to be distributed among needy people. (ivy)