Party supporters urged not to flock to Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman called on Tuesday on people living outside Jakarta, especially supporters of political parties, to temporarily refrain from entering the capital while the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) was in progress.

"We fear that there will be friction among supporters of political parties. It's therefore better for them to stay home and watch the Assembly's session from there," Noegroho told reporters after inspecting the preparation of some 6,200 joint security personnel and civilian security groups.

The two-star general said he also had counterparts in the nearby provinces of Lampung, West Java, Central Java and East Java help prevent those residents from coming to Jakarta.

Noegroho also said he would not allow any political party task force or other security volunteer group to arm themselves or directly safeguard the security process of the Assembly.

"They will be accompanied by police officers," he added.

Participants in Tuesday's ceremony at the Senayan parking lot in Central Jakarta consisted of 14 battalions of police, four battalions and one company of military personnel, three companies of public office officials and four battalions of civilian security forces, including those from political parties and the People's Security force (Kamra).

"Do your duty according to the law, with sympathy and without hurting people's hearts," Noegroho read from the instructions of National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi.

The overall situation in and around the capital was normal as of Tuesday.

A clash between 200 protesting students and security forces took place in the afternoon near the campus of privately run Sahid University in Tebet, South Jakarta.

At least six police officers and a student were slightly injured in the clash after students forced their way through the Assembly building, pelting stones and Molotov cocktails toward security forces, South Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Satrya Harry Prasetya said.

Satrya said the rally held by the students was not legal as they failed to notify police in advance as is required by law. But no students were detained, he added.

Separately, a number of groups, mostly supporters of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, dominated the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta by staging noisy but peaceful rallies.

A member of the group brought a van loaded with a generator and a sound system.

"Should Megawati fail to be elected, there will be a revolution," shouted activist Pius Lustrilanang, who was once kidnapped during the New Order era.

After the first group of some 200 people disbanded, another consisting of 1,500, who claimed they were from several parts of Jakarta and other outlying areas, packed the circle and the street.

The groups displayed a piece of white cloth and another in red with a length of 100 meters and 500 meters respectively, both filled with the signatures of Megawati's supporters. One cloth, they said, was signed with the blood of supporters.

Before their arrival, some 100 students of the University of Indonesia rallied at the site, demanding significant changes to the country's Constitution and an immediate trial for former president Soeharto.

The city's business and shopping centers were open as usual.

University campuses were also open.

The capital is reportedly packed with people from areas outside the city who have come to support their favorite candidate in the presidential election next Wednesday. (jun/bsr)