East Java prepares for backlash on calls for MPR special session
East Java prepares for backlash on calls for MPR special session
SURABAYA (JP): The latest political cacophony to erupt in the
capital has been met with a variety of reactions from other
cities, with most urging calm and some calling for political
protagonists to step down.
Businessman Alim Markus, who is chairman of the Bhakti
Persatuan foundation, a Chinese-Indonesia group in East Java, in
anticipation of a possible exodus abroad of ethnic Chinese in the
province.
"I ask them (all ethnic Chinese) to remain calm because
security personnel have done their best to ensure security. If we
panic, foreigners will become confused and our image before the
international community will be tarnished," Alim said on Friday.
Alim, the owner of giant plastic household products
manufacturer Maspion Group, was responding to questions from
journalists on the surge in demand for passports at the
provincial immigration office.
"I don't know about that. The increase may have no relation to
the special session," he remarked.
An official at Surabaya's immigration office claimed that
there was about a 10 percent increase in passport applications
from Chinese-Indonesians in the province.
According to the official, who asked not to be named, many had
admitted they were applying for passports just in case widespread
unrest erupted in the province.
Police claim that specific arrangements had been made for
Chinese-Indonesians and expatriates in Surabaya.
However in neighboring Pasuruan, a town where there is many
foreign-investment companies, local police chief Adj. Sr. Comr.
Wakin said security arrangements were still being drafted.
He did not give details of the possible arrangements.
In Bandung, academics and professionals grouped in the Bandung
Forum urged the government, members of the House of
Representative and the People's Consultative Assembly to all
resign in order to end the prolonged political impasse.
"The current political situation is very dangerous. To end the
deadlock, the government should resign and the legislative bodies
be dissolved," the forum's deputy chairman Hendarmin Ranadireksa
told reporters on Friday.
The forum comprises senior academics from state Padjajaran
University and the Bandung Institute of Technology.
Hendarmin said the opportunity should be given to the winner
of 1999 general election, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), to run a "caretaker" government.
"Our proposal is the easiest and most acceptable solution,"
Hendarmin said.
As a caretaker government, PDI Perjuangan should prepare for
general elections before 2003, the forum stated.
Another member of the forum, Sudjana Sapiie, said direct
elections would be the most appropriate and realistic form of
presidential elections to be held.
"Such a poll would be costly but I think it would be more
effective because what most people want would be known right
away," said Sudjana, who is also a member of the Rectors Forum.
Meanwhile in Purbalingga, Central Java, the Air Force
Operation Command's Rear Marshall Sutrisno SP said his command
was ready at any time to "evacuate members of the House of
Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly, should
the situation turn ugly."
"We are awaiting orders from the Indonesian Military (TNI)
chief," Sutrisno said.
"Around two companies of the Air Force's elite Paskhas AU are
also ready to move at any time," Sutrisno said. (nur/25/45)