Governors meeting in Yogyakarta

Governors meeting in Yogyakarta

YOGYAKARTA: A one-day meeting of top officials from the
provincial administrations of Java, Bali and Lampung took place
at the Melia Purosani Hotel here on Friday.

The meeting, initiated by Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono
X, was supposed to be in anticipation of possible riots before
and after the People's Consultative Assembly's (MPR) special
session in August.

Unconfirmed reports said that the provincial administrators
were determined to maintain law and order in their respective
territories by encouraging their people not to be easily provoked
by moves made by members of the political elite.

Many are worried that clashes will take place if President
Abdurrahman Wahid is impeached by the MPR in the special session.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, Central and East Java Governors
Mardiyanto and Imam Oetomo were among the participants.

"All eight provinces have sent their top officials," said a
member of the organizing committee, saying that provincial
military and police chiefs had also attended the meeting.

The closed meeting starting at 8 p.m. and was still in
progress at 10 p.m. The organizing committee promised a media
conference soon after the meeting was over. (23/nur)