Megawati faction sticks to its guns on rallies

JAKARTA (JP): Supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri's faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) vowed yesterday to defy a police ban and go ahead with rallies marking the second anniversary of a bloody attack on their ranks.

In Jakarta, a rally is tentatively scheduled for the faction's West Jakarta headquarters on Jl. Joglo Raya on Monday.

In Yogyakarta, the commemoration of the July 27 incident is scheduled for Sunday in the northern part of the sultanate's square.

"The commemoration will go ahead. It won't be postponed or called off," Jacob Nuwa Wea, organizing committee head of the Jakarta rally, told a media conference here.

The original venue was the Istora Senayan stadium in Central Jakarta. "After consulting with Megawati, she basically didn't mind the event being moved somewhere else," Jacob said.

City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman reiterated Thursday that police would not issue any permits for mass public commemorations of the July 27 incident.

"If they (Megawati's supporters) want to hold an ordinary celebration at home, go ahead. They do not need a permit to do that.

Jacob argued the West Jakarta venue came under Noegroho's definition. "The West Jakarta headquarters is not a public place. We consider that our home."

In Yogyakarta, Sultan Hamengku Buwono X has endorsed plans for the rally.

The gathering is expected to attract thousands of Megawati supporters, according to Cindelaras Yulianto, head of the organizing committee.

Meanwhile, the Jakarta Police and Jakarta Military Command will stage a joint exercise in the eastern part of Senayan parking lot this morning to anticipate the staging of the rally, an official said yesterday.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang told media that the exercise was part of security preparations to handle any undesired consequences.

"As police have not issued any permit for such a huge gathering, we have to be cautious over the matter," he told media.

Aritonang declined to mention the exact number of police officers to be deployed.

"It may be around 10 companies or more.. we will release the details tomorrow (today). Police will coordinate routes, planning and security with all involved security officers," he said.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman said yesterday his office would deploy 9,000 personnel to back up the police force in securing the meeting.

"But don't ask me about the strategy or preparation of the security program. Ask the city police chief, he's the man in control of that," he told reporters after attending the Friday prayer at the City Council.

Djaja refused to comment on what actions the security officers would take to anticipate the possibility of a long march by some of Megawati's supporters and the takeover of the party headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro.

"I have not heard about it. Anyway, we'll set up the security program. But please, don't violate the law. The headquarters is still considered a crime scene, so don't trespass."

Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto said yesterday he had no idea about the police's rejection of a proposal by Megawati's supporters to commemorate the incident.

"I am also surprised to hear that the police have banned the planned commemoration," Wiranto said as quoted by Lt. Gen. (ret) Achmad Kemal Idris, former chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad).

Kemal also quoted Wiranto as saying that he did not know about the police's ban.

Kemal, together with former Armed Forces chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Harsudiyono Hartas and former Jakarta governor Lt. Gen. (ret) Ali Sadikin, met with Wiranto at the Armed Forces headquarters in Central Jakarta yesterday morning.

Kemal, who now chairs the National Front, a social group for change, deplored the police's ban, saying Megawati was logically, legally and by virtue the legitimate PDI leader.

"The police's decision to ban the planned meeting indicates its dullness in understanding a premeditated scheme to keep the police away from its main duties to protect and defend the people.

"It puts the police at the front line in the military's repressive approach."

Kemal said he supported Megawati not merely because she was a daughter of former president Sukarno, but also because of the government's harsh treatment of her.

"I have long known her very well because she was a close friend of my daughter.

"I sympathize with her after all the government's bad treatment she has suffered," he said. (23/44/imn/byg/edt/cst)