Jakartans must not worry about rumors
Jakartans must not worry about rumors
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman urged Jakartans yesterday not to believe or worry about widely circulated rumors of renewed riots in the capital on Aug. 17.
Speaking with reporters after leading a joint parade of 1,500 police and military personnel, the two-star general said police had found that all the swirling rumors were totally groundless and spread by people attempting to take advantage of the situation.
"Please do not worry... We also have our ears and ways to track down any possible disputes," said Noegroho, who replaced Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata as the Jakarta Police boss after the mid- May riots.
"So I urge people not to easily believe what they hear on the grapevine, and not to believe everything they hear," he said.
These kinds of lies, he said, were similar to those circulated ahead of the recent July 27 commemoration, which was to mark the second anniversary of the bloody takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party headquarters in Jakarta.
"Many people got so afraid because the rumors had it that there would be a huge fray on that day. As a result, half of the business centers here closed," Noegroho recalled.
"In reality the celebration went smoothly and nothing happened. We proved them wrong," he added.
Many people in the city have been told, mostly through word of mouth, that social unrest similar to the May riots will rock the capital on Aug. 17.
On Thursday, Noegroho dismissed the swirling rumors and suggested Jakartans continue with their routine activities as well as jointly securing their residential complexes and business areas.
Central Jakarta mayor Andi Subur Abdullah admitted yesterday that the rumors of renewed riots had disturbed many people.
"Nowadays, people easily feel threatened and insecure. I do not mean to scare anybody, they're just rumors.
"But if we take them for granted they may happen for real. And if we take the rumors seriously, it will only depress us," Subur said.
"So the right thing to do is to anticipate any possible disturbances," he added.
Noegroho guaranteed yesterday that the security forces would do their best to make Jakarta safe for everyone.
"We're all alert and monitoring the situation," he said.
"And pray to God for the city to be safe and that we can do our job well," the general said, winking at the reporters.
Yesterday's parade at the city police headquarters was meant to help assure the public that the security forces were ready to handle any possible outbreak of unrest, not only on Aug. 17, he said.
"The security forces have to be ready to face every threat against the community," Noegroho said.
"Besides, we also want to guarantee public safety as there have been rumors which disturb the comfort of the capital's residents," he said.
The participants at the parade were part of the 6,000 personnel from the Jakarta Police Mobile Brigade, Jakarta Military Command and Jakarta Military Police, Noegroho said.
All of them are equipped with cars and motorcycles.
"These mobile troops can move fast and beat the traffic. So they can reach incidents quickly."
Two days before the July 27 commemoration, Noegroho also led a security forces display in which 10,000 of the city's 25,000 personnel put on a display at the Senayan Eastern Parking Lot in Central Jakarta.
Yesterday's parade was also attended by Jakarta Military Police Commander Col. Hendardji and all city police and military district chiefs. (edt)