PDI-P supporters told to prevent violence

PDI-P supporters told to prevent violence

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri marked the party's
28th anniversary on Sunday with a call for her supporters to
block attempts to instigate violence.

Megawati was addressing around 100,000 party supporters
packing the Senayan Stadium on the eve of a rumored mass rally
against President Abdurrahman Wahid. Precautions by the security
authorities have already been in made, with some 40,000 police
officers and military troops deployed to safeguard security in
the capital on Monday.

"Let us say, from now on, to say 'No' to any attempt at using
violence and terror. Let us free this nation from the traps of
violence and terror," she said.

Megawati, who is the Vice President, said the use of violence
would further damage the country's image.

"In my capacity as the party's chairwoman, I urge all members
to always resort to non-violent measures in our struggle. Anybody
who acts in anarchic manner must not be part of the PDI
Perjuangan," she said.

Megawati was referring to the rally on Monday, which has
spread fear among people in the city. Many schools, both state
and private, have decided to either halt activities or cut
classes short for Monday.

The Vice President further condemned the Christmas Eve
bombings, calling them a crime against humanity. She said the
nation should do all in its power to prevent a repeat of the
bombings or a spreading of terrorism.

At least 19 people were killed and over 100 injured in the
wave of bomb attacks, the latest to shake the country over the
past two years.

Megawati brought 15-year-old schoolboy Ahmad Taufik to the
podium to express her gratitude for his "courage and tolerance"
which saved a lot of lives from an act of terrorism.

Taufik, a resident of Bekasi, West Java, found three live
grenades placed on railway tracks near his village on Monday and
reported it to the police. Trains heading for Jakarta were
delayed for several hours as police cleared the tracks of the
explosives.

Also present at Sunday's celebration were President
Abdurrahman Wahid, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar
Tandjung, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais
and several cabinet ministers.

Some 5,000 Nahdlatul Ulama youth wing Ansor members, who
previously had been reported to be preparing themselves for a
containment of anti-Abdurrahman supporters on Jan. 15, were also
seen mingling with the PDI Perjuangan activists.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Megawati's call for peace
was worth appreciating.

"Ibu Mega's call is very appropriate and people will feel more
secure. Hopefully nothing bad will happen on Monday following her
statement," Susilo said after attending the commemoration.

He further said the police had been fully prepared for the
planned mass rally.

Amien Rais echoed Susilo's remark, saying that people should
comply with Megawati's call and all national leaders should
follow suit to avoid further tension in the country.

Earlier in the day, Amien dismissed reports of Monday's huge
rallies against the President.

Speaking upon inaugurating the new office of his National
Mandate Party (PAN) on Jl. Tebet Timur Raya in South Jakarta,
Amien, who chairs the party, said there would be rallies on
Monday, but with a smaller participation of only several thousand
people.

He said he welcomed the rallies if they were intended to
express opinions without involving destructive actions.

"If the rallies are followed by damaging shops, burning tires,
they violate the principles of democracy," he said.

He said he believed the security authorities had properly
arranged measures to prevent people from joining the possible
rallies and made appropriate precaution of them.

Ansor Youth Movement chairman Saifullah Yusuf guarantee that
all its members who attended Sunday's celebration would leave the
capital as soon as the event was over.

"I will make sure that everybody is heading for their
respective hometowns and none of them will hold any mass rally on
Monday," he remarked.

In Makassar capital of South Sulawesi, chairman of the United
Development Party (PPP) and head of Bulogate special committee
Bachtiar Hamzah claimed that circulating rumors of mass
deployment to the capital on Monday "is aimed to scare members of
Bulogate Special Committee".

"I have the feeling that this planned massive demonstration is
aimed to discourage the House committee to investigate Bulog
scandal. I think NU should leave the matter to the House and stay
away from politics," Bachtiar said.

"Actually it's okay to show aspirations or critics towards the
government and it's all right to defend the administration, too,
but the course of the (Monday) protest must be objective,"
Bachtiar said. (dja/jun/27/edt)