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)