MPR officials claim no electricity in barbed wire
MPR officials claim no electricity in barbed wire
JAKARTA (JP): Officials said on Thursday that pranksters were
responsible for placing signs warning of electrified barbed wire
at the People's Consultative Assembly/House of Representatives
(MPR/DPR) compound.
The barbed wire and the signs -- publicized in front-page
photographs in The Jakarta Post and Media Indonesia daily on
Thursday -- remained in place on Thursday afternoon.
Secretary-general of the DPR/MPR Afif Ma'roef, Jakarta Police
chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman and Mobile Brigade Corps
Commander Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas said no official policy existed
on the use of electrified barbed wire to secure the compound for
the MPR Special Session opening on Nov. 10.
A reported 3,800 joint security apparatus -- backed by
hundreds of civilian recruits from a total of 125,000 citywide --
have been deployed at the DPR compound. The military has assigned
20,000 personnel for the session costing Rp 13 billion (US$1.6
million).
Afif speculated that "mischievous people" created the signs,
which warn of electrocution.
"No, there's no such thing nor official policy (to use
electrified barbed wire). How could it be possible? Wouldn't it
be a crime if someone got killed?" he said at his office.
A smiling Noegroho, who is in charge of the city's security
during the four-day Special Session, said precautions were not
that extreme.
Wenas believed the signs were placed by pranksters with
nothing better to do.
"It violates human rights. No, we won't apply such means,"
Wenas told The Jakarta Post.
Heavy security is in place for the much-debated Special
Session. The public is divided among those who believe it is
important to address various political issues, and those who
consider it a sham.
The latter side claims legislators are token figures put in
place by the Soeharto regime and will merely perpetuate the
status quo.
There have been many demonstrations against the session and
more are expected. In line with the controversial new law on
freedom of expression, police have received notification of
several upcoming protesters.
Although supporters have joined the Armed Forces (ABRI) in
securing the political event, some opposition groups, mainly
composed of university students, have threatened to take over the
legislative building.
During the last days of Soeharto's rule, thousands of
university students occupied the building for three days. They
were flushed out of the compound a day after Soeharto stepped
down on May 21.
Distance
Djajoesman and Afif on Thursday said they would impose a new
regulation stipulating the permitted distance of protesters to
the legislative compound.
They cited Law. No. 9/1998 on freedom of expression in public
spaces. It allows people to protest no closer than 500 meters
from the gate of "vital national sites".
Djajoesman said the 500-meter distance would permit protesters
to demonstrate near the Manggala Wanabhakti building, Senayan
amusement park, Senayan eastern parking lot and along the street
in front of the state-run TVRI television station along to near
the Mulia Senayan Hotel.
He argued the measures would guarantee peaceful expression of
public aspirations and preclude violence.
Djajoesman said security personnel were prepared. "Let's
create a conducive environment for the session ... it can be
cheerful, but please be peaceful."
Separately on Thursday, Navy Commander Rear Adm. Widodo AS
said the Navy had deployed six warships in Jakarta waters.
"The operation is for supporting security in the capital
(Jakarta)," he was reported as saying Antara news agency in East
Java's capital of Surabaya. (edt/aan)