Military reassures foreigners about personal safety
JAKARTA (JP): City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has guaranteed the security of foreigners living and working in the capital.
"I can assure foreigners not to worry about staying in Jakarta because we will continue taking responsibility for their security," Sjafrie told reporters Saturday.
The Jakarta authorities have also been "pretty sure that this city is still safe and under control," Sjafrie said after attending the last day of the massive three-day military exercise to demonstrate the security forces' readiness to safeguard next month's general session of the People's Consultative Assembly.
During the general session starting on March 1, the 1,000- member Assembly will meet to elect a president and approve the broad government policy outlines for the next five years.
Several foreign embassies in Jakarta, worried about the country's major economic woes and soaring unemployment which, in turn, could spark social unrest, have reportedly issued contingency plans for the safety of their respective citizens.
However, the move was seen by Foreign Minister Ali Alatas last month as an understandable emergency step.
Many expatriates have already left Indonesia. But this is seen as more due to the financial inability of local companies to hire them than because the individuals were worried about the capital's security.
Sjafrie said foreigners and locals alike should therefore continue their routine activities without worrying about security and not to believe groundless rumors.
"Rumors and provocation can only spark public misery," reminded Sjafrie, who is also head of the Jakarta chapter of the Coordinating Board for National Stability.
Twenty-five thousand personnel from all four branches of the Armed Forces took part in the Saturday morning exercise led by Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung at the Senayan East Parking Lot in Central Jakarta.
The three-day display of military muscle in the capital has been seen by many as a clear warning to people not to attempt to disrupt the Assembly's meeting.
The security authorities have been on alert to crack down on disturbances as a result of the ongoing economic crisis, which has seen skyrocketing unemployment and prices of goods and services in many cities, including Jakarta.
City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata, who also attended the weekend's drill, reminded non-Jakartans who might be attempting to spark disorder in the capital to halt their plans.
"We have cooperated with police from the neighboring regions, such as West Java, Central Java and Lampung to monitor the influx of people heading to Jakarta.
"Therefore, non-Jakarta residents who have nothing to do in this city, particularly if they just intend to cause chaos, please do not come to the capital," Hamami told reporters.
Sjafrie said his personnel have also been deployed in certain places in neighboring provinces to help local residents monitor suspicious groups in their districts. (bsr/jun)