Gus Dur supporters start pouring into the capital

Gus Dur supporters start pouring into the capital

JAKARTA (JP): Amid increasing worries of possible civil unrest
over the current political situation, hundreds of supporters of
President Abdurrahman Wahid arrived here on Monday to show
support for their embattled leader.

People grouped in the United People's Movement (Garab) from
Malang and Blitar, East Java, arrived at Senen railway station in
Central Jakarta on Monday. Many other supporters took buses to
the capital.

Garab's coordinator H. Somad, who claimed to lead some 700
people, said they had come to the capital to show support for the
President and reject the convening of a special session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) that would likely impeach
him.

"I can guarantee that this group will not create any riots in
the capital ... Of course we will not target Jakarta residents
since we all love peace," he said.

He said the President's supporters, comprising farmers,
students and traders, would stay in Jakarta until the convening
of the special session.

The House of Representatives (DPR) will hold a plenary session
on Wednesday that is likely to call for the MPR to convene the
special session to impeach the President.

The police seemed to have anticipated the influx of
Abdurrahman's supporters as dozens of police officers conducted
weapons searches against everyone alighting from trains at Senen
station.

After the search, police seized three sickles, a machete and
many sharpened bamboo sticks. Police even detained one of the
President's supporters for possession of weapons.

Central Jakarta police chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said
the police escorted some of the incoming Abdurrahman supporters
to the Pondok Gede Muslim pilgrims' dormitory in East Jakarta.

Some others went to their hotels in Jl. Jaksa, Central
Jakarta.

Mathius predicted that the Abdurrahman supporters who arrived
here on Monday numbered around 400 people.

Separately, city police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob said
later on Monday evening that the number of incoming Abdurrahman
supporters had reached over 650 people.

He expected many more people from East and Central Java would
come to Jakarta by train and bus on Tuesday and the coming few
days to show support for the President.

The police will again conduct body searches of those incoming
passengers at Senen train station, and also at a number of bus
terminals.

He said the police had no objection to their presence, as long
as they did not cause any trouble.

"But if they try to provoke mass unrest, then we'll beat them
up," Sofjan warned.

He added that police were monitoring the movements of the
supporters.

He noted that the city police had readied all of its personnel
to secure Jakarta from possible civil unrest.

Despite a full security alert by the city police, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso claimed on Monday that the city was still safe
and would remain so in the coming few days.

Two important events will be held in Jakarta this week, namely
the DPR's plenary session on Wednesday and the summit of leaders
from the Group of 15 developing countries (G-15) on Wednesday and
Thursday.

"Although it's a red alert, Jakarta is still safe. I hope
residents will continue to go about their daily activities as
usual," Sutiyoso told reporters, after attending a meeting at the
city council.

Before the meeting, he predicted the number of Abdurrahman
supporters coming to Jakarta would be less than those who came
last month, when the House convened a plenary session to issue
the second memorandum of censure against the President.

Separately, Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul
Kahfi urged Jakarta residents to help secure the city by guarding
their own neighborhoods.

"We hope residents will safeguard their neighborhoods around
the clock," Kahfi said. (ylt/01/jun)