City could be 'rocked by riots'

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Deputy Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. warned on Monday that the current situation was not conducive enough to hold the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in November.

The unsatisfactory climate, particularly viewed from the political dimension and the people's psychological preparation, could even lead to fresh riots in Jakarta, Widodo was quoted as saying by Antara.

"The tension and potential for conflict among members of the public remains high. Any accelerator and trigger could lead to riots in the capital, and even in other towns (across the country)," the senior Navy officer told the 20th meeting of all the country's chiefs of military resorts and district commands here.

One indication, Widodo said, is evident among the political elites in that they have not shown a strong commitment for compromise and consensus to settle differences.

TNI therefore considers political elites and all MPR members could play significant and distinct roles in making the General Session secure and a success, he added.

The military also continued its efforts to ask the country's politicians to play bigger "positive and proactive" roles in controlling their supporters.

The world witnessed fierce riots involving thousands of people in Jakarta in mid May last year following the military shooting into a sea of protesting students.

The riots, the most violent to ever happen in the capital, caused massive destruction, leaving more than 1,000 people dead, many of whom were looters trapped in buildings which had been set on fire, and thousand others lost their shops, houses and other property.

During Monday's meeting, Widodo told the military resort and district commanders to stay alert to detect the possibility of massive rallies and prevent them during the upcoming General Session. (bsr)