Jakarta will be safe and sound during elections: Military
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)