NU head says repeat warnings may cause panic

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi criticized the country's security authorities for issuing repeated warnings of possible disturbances ahead of the 2004 elections, saying this would only succeed in causing anxiety.

"The intermittent warnings will cause people to feel uneasy and panicky. I understand they are aimed at keeping people on the alert, but the military and the police, which bear the responsibility for protecting citizens, must prove their words first," Hasyim was quoted by Antara as saying on Saturday.

The chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization said the military and police should have the evidence to support their warnings.

The security authorities should arrest those people they have accused of intending to create chaos during the elections, rather than just announcing more security warnings, he said.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto told the House of Representatives last week that intelligence authorities had detected moves by some groups to sabotage the elections. He also categorized demands for a judicial review of the election law as part of the attempts to foil the polls.

Endriartono did not identify those groups that were allegedly plotting to foil the elections.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar later backed Endriartono's statement and asked people to remain on the alert.

Da'i also warned of possible terrorist attacks around the Idul Fitri holiday.

Hasyim criticized both the military and police chiefs for emulating their predecessors from the New Order era, who he said preferred talking to working.

The Muslim leader said there had been few changes in the way the police and the military went about their duties since the fall of the New Order in 1998.

He urged the military and police to revamp their working systems in order to boost their performance and to prevent security flaws.

"Should the military and the police fail to improve their performance, it will be difficult for the nation to feel secure and to continue to grow," Hasyim said.

Political analyst Indria Samego said the early warnings served as notification that the military still played a pivotal role in the country's politics.

Indria, a researcher with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said he could understand the behavior of the military, which will no longer be allocated seats in the House of Representatives.