Leaders of youth organizations warn Gus Dur's supporters

Leaders of youth organizations warn Gus Dur's supporters

JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of major youth organizations warned
supporters of President Abdurrahman Wahid not to engage in any
anarchic activity as they would be ready to take counter actions
during the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly
on August 1.

Najamuddin Ramly, chairman of the Muhammadiyah Youth Movement,
Yorris Raweyai, who chairs the Pemuda Pancasila youth group,
Fahri Hamzah and senior leaders of the Indonesian Muslim Students
Action Front (KAMMI) voiced their warning during a discussion
here on Tuesday.

"Who will take to the streets (to hold protest) ahead of the
special session? I think only supporters of Gus Dur while other
groups will remain on alert," Najamuddin said, referring to
President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Najamuddin stressed that senior figures of Muhammadiyah have
reiterated their stance against any violence and anarchy,
particularly during the special session.

"My friends will only observe Gus Dur's supporters and if they
are overreacting, we will then take action," Najamuddin added,
without elaborating.

The presence of Yorris in the meeting attracted attention.
Yorris is known for his strong support of former president
Soeharto and Golkar. He also openly shows his sympathy to the
Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Yorris belittled the strength of Abdurrahman's supporters.
"They are mainly based in East Java. If they are enraged, let
their anger be expressed in East Java which is only one of our 31
provinces anyway," he said.

"Even if they do come to Jakarta, few of them can afford that.
Here we have thousands of people who have had enough of violence
and are ready to quash them," Yorris maintained.

Yorris also pointed out that Pemuda Pancasila cadres would
also be deployed during the special session "to help security
forces to maintain order in the capital."

Speaking of controlling the masses, Fahri Hamzah underlined
that KAMMI would refrain from staging rallies during the special
session.

He said the reaction of the masses depended on the leadership
of the organizations.

Fahri stressed that he had warned his juniors in his
organization to keep on track as "a student moral and pressure
movement."

"They will not take sides either with Abdurrahman or his
opponents. We will quash those against democracy, justice and
human rights.

Political observer Denny J.A., who also attended the meeting,
however warned the organization leaders not to be provoked by any
actions of Abdurrahman's supporters.

"The supporters of Abdurrahman will definitely show their
force and security forces will have difficulty handling them," he
said." (emf)