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)