Jakartans told to be alert as MPR meeting nears

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso urged Jakartans to remain on the alert in line with escalating death threats and widespread rumors of renewed rioting ahead of next week's special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Sutiyoso, who had just arrived home from a two-week official visit to Europe, said on Monday that people from all walks of life must intensify security measures and neighborhood watches in business and residential areas.

If members of the public are in any way threatened or terrorized they should immediately report the matter to the police, he urged.

"We have to keep on the alert," Sutiyoso explained before reminding Jakartans not to overreact to the current situation.

"We should not totally rely on the grapevine. Some rumors have proved to be untrue," the governor told reporters.

He said the most important thing was that people from all walks of life should be united in the face of any threat.

Sutiyoso's call was welcomed by councilors.

"Jakartans have to play a big role in making the Assembly's special session a success by keeping the capital secure," City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo said.

According to Edy, councilors also urged the city police and military to strengthen security to prevent a possible recurrence of rioting and to stop death threats being issued against people, particularly Moslem preachers, from being carried out.

He said the council plans to discuss the matter with Governor Sutiyoso and related officials over the next few days.

Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman had earlier asked the public to remain alert to stop a wave of mysterious killings from spreading into the capital from East and Central Java.

"Security personnel have been put on the alert. I hope that people will inform the authorities if they see any signs of the killings spreading here," Noegroho said.

News that the murder spree in East and Central Java is advancing toward Jakarta has worried city residents and Moslem preachers over the past few weeks.

Like in many areas of Java, a number of Moslem preachers in the city have reportedly received telephoned death threats from unknown parties and for unclear reasons.

Many people believed the threats are related to recent events in East and Central Java in which over than 140 people, mostly Moslem preachers, have been murdered. Some were also accused of practicing black magic.

The latest incident in the capital happened in the early hours of Sunday, when ex-convict turned Moslem preacher Anton Medan was abducted by five unidentified men attired in ninja-like black clothing and dumped in a quiet village in Cianjur, West Java.

The chief of Cianjur police precinct Lt. Col. Panjang Yuswanto said Anton, who is also known as Muhammad Hamdan Effendi, was kidnapped by unidentified men while he and his driver were on the way to Anton's At-Taibin Islamic boarding school in Tegal Batu village, Cibeureum, Cisarua.

"Anton had just finished preaching in the nearby Ciampea district and was about to enter the boarding school when the incident happened," Panjang told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Anton and his driver Agus Sumianto were stopped at the boarding school's gate by five unidentified men armed with machetes and sickles, Panjang said.

"The driver was held and threatened with a sickle by one of the men while Anton was dragged out of the car and pushed into a dark Kijang van," he added.

The kidnappers then rushed to Cianjur and dumped Anton in a street in Seljambu village.

He was found by two local residents, Adih and Yahya.

Safe back at home in Central Jakarta and resting on his bed, Anton showed reporters his torn shirt and said the kidnappers cut it with a sickle. He also said that after being dumped, the kidnappers ran their car over his body.

It appears that he was not hurt.

Separately, dozens of Moslem preachers in the mountainous Puncak resort area south of here gathered in Cipayung field, Megamendung, Bogor on Monday and vowed to stop the terror, even if it meant risking their lives.

They also said they have ordered genies to join their efforts to deal with the unknown parties.

"We'll put our lives on the line and fight them in the name of God," senior preacher Saoge Getmir said.

"We'll trace their whereabouts and chase them," he said.

A preacher named Endang Muslihat claimed that at least 300 Islamic leaders in the area had so far received death threats from mysterious phone callers. (jun/emf/24)