Kokam to field 10,000 guards

Kokam to field 10,000 guards

SURABAYA (JP): The East Java chapter of the Muhammadiyah Youth
Association said on Saturday they would deploy at least 10,000
people to safeguard the Muslim organization's property before,
during and after the special session of the People's Consultative
Assembly scheduled for Aug. 1.

M. Mirdasy said during a press briefing here on Saturday the
10,000 guards would be concentrated at schools, hospitals,
mosques, orphanages and secretariats belonging to Muhammadiyah in
the province.

The guards, from Kokam, the Muhammadiyah's civilian guard,
will not wear special uniforms, he said.

Large groups of people, reportedly supporters of President
Abdurrahman Wahid, have in the past vandalized Muhammadiyah's
property, mostly in East Java.

Mirdasy said the police had been slow to respond to the
attacks, allowing the assailants to escape. He cited the attack
on a Muhammadiyah high school in Sidoardjo last May.

Fasichul Lisan, the chairman of the Muhammadiyah Youth Force,
said that Muhammadiyah had suffered more than Rp 1 billion in
financial losses from the vandalism. (nur/sur)