Military command withdraws troops

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Military Command has started to withdraw, in stages, half of its 5,500 personnel from the streets and visible public areas, according to an official.

The command's spokesman Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi said over the weekend the remaining half of the troops are still ordered to safeguard business centers and vital public buildings.

According to Nachrowi, the soldiers are part of the 25,000 personnel who were deployed over the last few months to secure the capital.

"We decided to remove soldiers from the city's major intersections and some public areas due to the secure situation right now," he said.

Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said earlier that the security forces included personnel from all units of the Armed Forces (ABRI) -- Army, Navy, Air Force and Police Force.

He said most of the 25,000 troops were on standby in their respective bases and ready to move fast if necessary.

Unlike in the previous weeks, Jakartans can now see only a few gun-toting uniformed soldiers on major intersections and at buildings.

Many however questioned the latest strategy of the security forces to disperse protesters in which the personnel no longer use shields, batons and rattan as their main tools.

They now, even those assigned at the front row, equip themselves with guns.

The latest example was the clash between protesting workers and military personnel in Cibitung on Tuesday where soldiers shot at least 20 of the protesters with rubber bullets. (ivy)