Military to clamp down on inciteful opinions

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman said on Friday that he was not against different opinions being voiced in rallies, but that he would not tolerate any opinion which sowed insecurity among the public.

"We are responsible for maintaining security in the city," Djadja said after opening a joint sports event held by the command to mark its reconciliation with students in the city.

The sports event was held with the aim of uniting students and soldiers after months of "sour encounters."

Djadja reiterated that any parties or students intending to express their opinions should use formal channels and not protest on the streets.

"Security officers do not actually want to be involved in physical clashes with the protesters. The best way to discuss differences is through formal democratic procedures," he said.

The two-star general made the remarks following reports on the emergence of two rival groups of demonstrators, one of which claims to support President Habibie's and the other of which is opposed to his rule. The two groups have reportedly staged a number of rallies over the past two months.

The two groups, which are made up of university students, pro- democracy activists and members of the general public, have apparently been countering one another through issues raised during protests.

"Once, as soon as one group began a rally in front of the House of Representatives (DPR), they other group arrived to face them down," he said.

There were no reports of clashes between the two groups, but the security forces were forced to close a number of roads, causing heavy traffic jams in the area.

Shortly after speaking to reporters, Djadja joined the students and his officers in the sports events, including aerobics and basketball.

The event was held at Jaya Sakti First Infantry Brigade headquarters in East Jakarta. Soldiers from the command and students from 23 universities in Greater Jakarta participated.

"We have to unite our vision. After months of securing the city against street rallies and being engaged in physical clashes, the students might think that the military are very cruel. Soldiers and students could develop a better rapport here," Djadja said.

Abba Tahir from the private Muhammadiyah University in South Jakarta expressed fears that the joint sports event had a political agenda behind it.

"I hope it is not intended to curtail the student movement. We won't lose our critical views and we will keep criticizing the government and its policies," Abba said.

He said that he was afraid when he first arrived at the headquarters on Jl. Raya Kalisari in the Pekayon subdistrict and noticed the large number of soldiers present.

"I was very afraid. I thought this was the place they detained the abducted activists," Abba said, referring to a building in the compound believed to be have been used to detain kidnapped political activists.

"But as soon as I entered the gate, the soldiers welcomed me by singing and clapping their hands. It was as if I was the Sultan (king) entering the kraton (palace)," he said.

In the sports event, the command symbolically handed over 2.5 tons of rice to each campus to be sold at low prices to the needy living near their university grounds. (ivy)