Jakarta safe for MPR session: Juwono

JAKARTA (JP): Security authorities have anticipated the possibility of attempts by certain groups to destabilize the capital during next month's People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) General Session, Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Juwono said the government had learned of attempts by certain groups to create unrest in several areas outside Jakarta ahead of the Aug. 7 to Aug. 18 annual session in the hopes that authorities in the capital would send more troops to the conflict.

By creating unrest outside, the parties strongly hope that Jakarta will face a security vacuum, he said.

"We have detected certain patterns of unrest outside the capital, and some possible tense escalation in strife-torn areas, such as Irian Jaya, Aceh and Maluku, which requires more troops to leave the capital," Juwono said.

He gave no further explanation.

The minister guaranteed that Jakarta would be safe, particularly during the session.

"The main point is that nothing bad will happen in Jakarta and there will be enough police and military officers to maintain security in the capital," Juwono said.

National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo said earlier that his office would deploy 28,270 security personnel to secure the annual event.

Many believe that military and police officers in the city will face challenges during the session due to escalating political tension following rumors of attempts to unseat President Abdurrahman Wahid, which has triggered anger among many of his supporters.

Some leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which was once led by Abdurrahman, recently said it would summon its multipurpose force (Banser) to Jakarta to confront any groups attempting to push people to seek Abdurrahman's resignation.

The police also have a contingency plan for preventing outside residents from entering Jakarta if unrest occurs in the capital during the session.

Juwono said a sufficient number of personnel would be provided to safeguard the capital during the session and, therefore, Jakarta would not need any more officers from other groups to handle security.

The military and police will not use any armed civilians either as they have anticipated all possibilities that could disrupt security in the capital, he added.(dja)