Military command withdraws troops

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)