Kamra wants legal status

YOGYAKARTA: Some 700 members of People's Security (Kamra) civilian militia from Yogyakarta and the Central Java towns of Semarang, Surakarta and Klaten staged a street protest on Monday, demanding their status be clarified.

They marched to Yogyakarta gubernatorial office complex in Kepatihan and were received by Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.

Rubiyanto, spokesman for the protesters, said their Kamra contracts would expire at the end of this year.

He said that several members of Kamra would leave Yogyakarta for the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta on Tuesday to convey their demand.

Some 50 other Kamra members from other provinces including West Java, East Java and Jakarta will participate in the protest in Jakarta.

Responding to the protesters, Sultan Hamengkubuwono said he supported the Kamra members' plan. The sultan expressed hope that the Ministry of Defense would make clear their position and practical function among the community. (swa)