No permit for 'trouble makers'

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Local military chief Col. S.N. Suwisma vowed on Saturday to ban from entering the province anyone whose presence the authorities believed could disrupt stability.

"There is no way we can allow in someone who could threaten stability," he said when addressing a meeting between Director for Buddhists Budi Setiawan and local Buddhist leaders.

His remarks came amid a raging debate about criticism of local governments' ban on intellectuals' addressing gatherings or performing artistic works for security reasons.

He maintained that the government's policy requiring official permission to hold gatherings was still necessary to maintain stability, Antara reported. (pan)