Palu beefs up security on eve of PDI congress

JAKARTA (JP): Authorities tightened security in Palu, Central Sulawesi, over the weekend as participants of the pro-Soerjadi Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) began arriving to attend a five-day congress.

Hundreds of armed troops and riot police were deployed at Palu airport to escort the arriving delegations.

Dozens of followers of ousted chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri have also arrived in the coastal town, in an apparent attempt to disrupt the congress, Antara reported.

Chief of Donggala Police, Lt. Col. Adryzal Adnan, said armed and riot police, including dozens from the Mobile Brigade units have been deployed to anticipate possible unrest before and during the congress.

"We have done the maximum to ensure security," he said.

He said that 1,300 personnel have been stationed in strategic locations to secure the congress.

Local congress organizing committee chairman Karto Dg. Nappa said an additional party task force of 300 personnel would guard the Hajj Dormitory where the congress is to be held.

He said those entering the congress must have identification cards issued by the party's central board in Jakarta, including journalists covering the event.

Lt. Col. Indra Budi, chief of the Mobile Brigade, said Palu airport was under tight security following the presence of Megawati's followers in and around the airport.

He said that an additional 100 Mobile Brigade personnel from North Sulawesi were on their way to Palu to help maintain order.

Palu Mayor Rully Lamadjido urged residents to create a "conducive" atmosphere and make the congress a success, Antara quoted him Saturday.

Rully even called on residents to get ready to cash in by selling traditional gifts to visitors, whose numbers are predicted to rise this week.

As of yesterday afternoon, PDI's chairman, Soerjadi, and secretary-general, Buttu Hutapea, had not arrived in Palu.

Soerjadi ousted Megawati in a government-backed congress in 1996. However, with strong public support, she maintains that she is the rightful chair of the party.

Megawati's followers have threatened to foil the Palu congress, with masses flocking from Jakarta and other towns in Central Java, Sulawesi and Maluku.

Alex Widya Siregar, deputy PDI treasurer of the Soerjadi camp, said delegations from 10 provinces have arrived in Palu to attend the congress.

Separately, Megawati accused the government yesterday of engineering the Palu congress, which has been opposed by a majority of PDI followers.

"I feel sad for having to say that the government engineered the congress, which has met opposition from a majority of the party's followers," she said in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara.

Megawati was in Mataram to officially open a meeting of its PDI chapter.

"Political organizations should be free of government interference if Indonesia wants to be a democratic country," she said, reported Antara. (aan/imn/rms)