Jakartans told to be alert as MPR meeting nears

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)