Jakarta will be safe and sound during elections: Military

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Military Command predicts no riots and disturbances will mar the June general election in the capital.

Although there will be many more political parties competing compared to the three mainstays of the 1997 election, the capital will not be rocked by fresh unrest ahead of the poll thanks to the public's growing understanding of democracy, the command's spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi said on Tuesday.

"Unlike the views of many analysts, we have yet to see any indication which would lead to possible riots or public disturbances during the June general election," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said there was no reason for Jakarta residents to fear nightmarish scenarios before, during or after the June 7 election.

Moreover, all elements of the city's security authorities -- such as the police, military and civilian militia now being recruited -- have declared themselves ready to secure and make a success of the general election, Nachrowi said.

Although the military command is not directly involved in safeguarding the next general election, it has prepared a strong troop reserve as backup for the city police, he added.

The number has yet to be decided.

"But we are ready. The number of troops will totally depend on the police request for backup soldiers."

He believed election security would also be supported by the huge number of security personnel from each of the competing political parties.

Many are worried Jakarta will be gripped by street rallies with high potential for violence when the campaign is scheduled to get underway on May 18.

The government has yet to issue a definitive ruling on whether street campaigning will be allowed, or whether rallies will be restricted to indoor arenas.

"We hope all participating parties in the upcoming election would focus their promotion on the economic issue during their campaigns," Nachrowi said.

In a related development on Tuesday, Governor Sutiyoso said he planned to invite executives of all political parties running in the poll to discuss safety and security in the city ahead of the general election.

Also to be involved are other high-ranking officials, such as chiefs of the Jakarta police, military command and the provincial prosecutor's office, he told reporters.

Sutiyoso said those invited would be expected to give guarantees they would work together to safeguard the capital from provocateurs and rioters "at all costs".

"I want fear in the capital to be wiped out, particularly during the weeks leading to the general election," Sutiyoso said during a visit to the slum area of Kebon Melati subdistrict in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

"There must be order and peace for the capital's inhabitants."

Sutiyoso added that the presence of the international media during the election would not cause the lifting of the shoot-on- sight order for suspected criminals issued by Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto.

"The security of the capital will not be put on hold because of international coverage. We live in a lawful capital," the three-star Army general said.

"Jakartans do not want bloodshed, but looters will not be spared."

Sutiyoso said he was unsure of the number of security personnel safeguarding the capital during the election, but the city administration was enlisting additional help for the police from 17,000 civilian security guards (hansip).

"If the situation returns to normal, only then can we expect some economic growth," he said. (jun/ylt)