Jakarta safe for MPR session: Juwono

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)