No protests during Air Show, Sutiyoso warns

JAKARTA (JP): Greater Jakarta Military Command Chief Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso has threatened harsh measures against demonstrators during the Air Show.

"Don't even try to stage any demonstrations while the International Air Show is going on. We all want everything to be smooth, don't we..." Sutiyoso said to reporters after a roll call for the security guards for the Air Show at Senayan eastern parking lot, Central Jakarta, yesterday.

Without revealing what punishment demonstrators would face, the two-star general said that the heads of states from Brunei Darussalam, Singapore and Malaysia are expected to visit the international event, scheduled from June 22 to 30.

"I expect every officer to stay alert. The number of student and worker demonstrations has been on the rise lately," he said.

More than 4,000 troops will guard the city during the show, which is to be opened by President Soeharto.

In yesterday's roll call the Armed Forces and police showed off their equipment: bomb detectors, helicopters, and mobile communication units.

Sutiyoso also told his officers to be cool. "If demonstrators throw stones at you, you are not allowed to throw stones back. I mean it," Sutiyoso told members of the riot unit. (jun/sur)