Groups vow not to mobilize civilian militia

Groups vow not to mobilize civilian militia

JAKARTA (JP): The city police said on Tuesday that all civilian militias had confirmed they would not be present at the People's Consultative Assembly during the Annual Session which starts next Monday.

"I invited representatives of all civilian militia groups in the city to attend a meeting recently and they all said they would not participate in the security measures taken by the Jakarta Police during the session," city police chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi said on Tuesday

However, an executive of the Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) Banser militia, Endang Shobirin, said his men would stick to their word only if legislators proved they were not trying to topple President Abdurrahman Wahid from his post.

Wahid is a former chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama, a Muslim organization that has approximately 30 million followers across the country.

"We won't tolerate any attempts by legislators to turn the Annual Session into a Special Session," Endang told The Jakarta Post at Banser headquarters in Central Jakarta.

He warned that his 25,000-strong militia were ready to fight to maintain Abdurrahman in his current seat for the next five years.

Officer Nurfaizi strongly urged all parties, particularly civilian militia, not to order their members or supporters to go to the legislative building during the session from Aug. 7 to Aug. 18.

"It's the police's responsibility to maintain security and order during the Annual Session. It would be better if members of civilian militias stay in their respective residences and help maintain order there," he said after addressing a ceremony marking the replacement of the West Jakarta Police chief.

Governor Sutiyoso sang the same tune, appealing to residents not to deploy civilian security forces at the legislators' compound for any reason.

"Residents can participate (in the law and order effort) by safeguarding their neighborhoods, instead of concentrating on the assembly complex.

"Let the police and military do the job," he said at City Hall.

"Besides, National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo warned last week he won't tolerate any private security forces in and around the assembly complex," he added.

The session has an important agenda, including President Abdurrahman Wahid's annual accountability speech and the passing of amendments to the 1945 Constitution.

It has been reported that the Banser militia is ready to deploy thousands of its members to safeguard the annual session.

But many see this threat as more of a psychological support for the President.

Several other militias linked to political parties are also reported to be gearing up their members to 'safeguard' the session. One of the most prepared is the Satgas, the force belonging to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Nurfaizi also advised people from outside Jakarta not to come to the capital during the session.

"Police have no right to stop people from entering the city, but for security efforts, leave them to the city police," he said.

Last Thursday, Nurfaizi said a total of 66,304 members of the Jakarta Police and several provincial police forces would be deployed during the session.

He added that the number of officers on duty during the session could be increased should the situation require it.

Endang said Banser was ready to help the city police if requested.

"We will continuously coordinate with the city police as to whether we once need to mobilize our members to help them," he said.

He said the mobilization of Banser members would also depend on other militias.

"If security personnel fail to prevent other militia from mobilizing their members, we will follow the move.

"Therefore, security personnel must be able to give a guarantee that there will be no militias or task forces hitting the streets during the session," he said.(asa/nvn)