Militiamen banned from entering MPR complex

JAKARTA (JP): City police do not have the right to prevent Banser civilian militiamen from entering the city, however, they will take stern action if one illegally approaches the legislative complex during the Annual Session, a police officer said on Thursday.

Supt. Zainuri Lubis, the outgoing spokesman for the city police, announced that officers could not prohibit civilian militiamen from entering the city, "or we'll be accused of breaching human rights".

Lubis was responding to reports that hundreds of Banser civilian militiamen from East Java had flooded the capital city to safeguard the People's Consultative Assembly's (MPR) Annual Session from Aug. 7 through Aug. 18.

Banser is a civilian militia under the auspices of the youth wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, which throws its support behind President Abdurrahman Wahid.

The officer said the city police would prohibit them from taking part in safeguarding the session. They would also be banned from entering the area surrounding the legislative complex.

"The security surrounding the legislative complex is fully in the hands of the official security personnel, including the police. The area will be free of any civilian militias," he said.

"The police are able to handle security in the city without the help of militias," he said, adding that some 28,000 officers would be deployed to safeguard the session.

Many officials, including National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo, called on political parties earlier not to deploy their security and task forces in Jakarta for the Assembly's Annual Session.

However, chairman of the East Java provincial chapter of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Choirul Anam said on Wednesday that hundreds of Banser members had entered Jakarta and were ready to act on orders to safeguard the session.

He said the Banser members were in Jakarta on their own initiative and were not representing NU. They were in Jakarta on their own expenses, Choirul added.

West Java

Separately, West Java Banser commander Ali Anwar said in Bandung on Thursday that he was ready to send his members to Jakarta should any unconstitutional events take place during the session.

Turning the Assembly's Annual Session into a Special Session would be unconstitutional, he said.

He said West Java had more than 35,800 Banser members spread throughout the province.

"It depends on the NU and PKB bosses when we are to move into Jakarta. We are committed to taking part in dealing with any chaotic situations," Ali told The Jakarta Post. "I guarantee they will not act without my orders."

He acknowledged that many Banser members from other cities in Java had flooded into Jakarta on their own free will. "That is very possible for us to do. And this has nothing to do with the organization."

Chairman of the West Java chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Jajang Kurniady also expressed his party's readiness to send "combat ready" militiamen to Jakarta for the same reason.

"We have 500 'combat ready' personnel who are ready to help the party and the government at the Assembly's Annual Session," Jajang said.

West Java Police have prohibited any organization from sending their militiamen to Jakarta for any purpose during the Assembly's Annual Session.

"Deploying militiamen will only result in fighting among them," spokesman Supt. Dede Ahmad said.

In the Central Java capital of Semarang, thousands of Banser militiamen and supporters of the PKB from Kendal regency expressed their readiness to go to Jakarta to safeguard the Annual Session.

"We are watching the developments every second. And we will move if we think we are needed. We are watching the progress of the situation ahead of the session," Asfuri Mughni, chairman of the PKB's Kendal regency office said on Thursday.

The East Java chapter of PDI Perjuangan had also expressed its willingness to deploy its Satgas civilian militiamen in Jakarta.

The chairman of the provincial chapter, Adrianus Harsono, said on Wednesday that the Satgas commander would lead the group, but he declined to say when they would leave Surabaya.

PDI Perjuangan is chaired by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.(asa/25/har/sur)