Planned massive rally may affect public life

JAKARTA (JP): Fearing possible unrest due to a massive antigovernment rally scheduled for this morning, most activities in the capital will be temporarily closed today.

Unlike in previous years, only a few people -- mostly state employees -- are expected to attend the annual flag-raising ceremony held on the morning of National Awakening Day because most schools, universities, banks and offices will be closed.

The ceremony is meant to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the formation of a nationalist movement against Dutch colonial rule.

"No, no, no. There's no school tomorrow," said 13-year-old Julius Adam of Tarakanita junior high school in Rawamangun, East Jakarta.

Moslem scholar and leading opposition figure Amien Rais reiterated yesterday that he would keep his promise and lead a massive demonstration of "one million" people at the National Monument (Monas) Square in Central Jakarta beginning at 9 a.m. today to bring home the message to President Soeharto that he must step down.

"I hope it will be peaceful," he said of the rally which has been organized by KAMMI (the Indonesian Moslem Students Action Front).

Similar mass demonstrations are expected to take place in Yogyakarta and other cities.

Many of the offices which will be closed tomorrow, including banks, restaurants and foreign-owned institutions, are those located near the square and in the city's business center.

"We've been told by the management of Summitmas Tower that the building will be closed for the whole day tomorrow (today)," a female employee from the building told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Bank Artha Graha ordered all of its branch offices in Jakarta and nearby towns to halt operations today to prevent possible damage.

"Besides, it may be difficult for our staff to come to work tomorrow because many main roads in Jakarta will be closed by the massive protest," the bank's public relations officer said.

He added that the bank would resume normal operations on Friday. Thursday is a national public holiday.

Publicly-listed Bank Niaga said that most of its branch offices here would be also closed.

"We want to protect our employees and our properties from more damage," an executive said.

He added that at least 10 of the bank's Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) in the city were badly damaged and looted during last week's riots.

Several local and foreign institutions and private companies, including food and beverage producer Nestle and property consultants Colliers Jardine, announced they would be closed until Friday.

Banks

Bank Indonesia, the central bank announced yesterday that all banking operations, including interbank clearing would continue today, despite the rally.

The central bank halted all clearing activities last Thursday and Friday due to widespread rioting in the city.

Its stance has been followed by all state banks.

BNI spokesman Dadang Surachman said that all state banks had been ordered to open for business today.

"We even have to attend a flag ceremony to commemorate National Awakening Day tomorrow (today)," he said.

The country's largest private bank, Bank Central Asia (BCA), will also be open today.

Most state offices will open as usual today.

An employee of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) said she was disappointed by the decision.

"They even ordered us to dress in the Korpri (Indonesian Civil Servant Corps) uniform. It is very risky and we are frightened," she said.

Last night the Monas (National Monument Square) was guarded by some armored vehicles as rumors had it that a huge rally was planned at the square. It was unclear who planned to join the rally.

Sources said thousands of students from universities in several cities, including Bandung and Ujungpandang, plan to join today's demonstration.

In an attempt to minimize the possibility of violence, the security forces will deploy half of the city's 78,000 police and military personnel, according to Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who is also Commander of Operational Forces in the capital.

"I urge the leaders who have any interest in this moment to be responsible for their actions, and do not, I repeat, do not bring this country into more suffering by breaking our trust and creating chaos," he said yesterday afternoon at Istora Senayan after inspecting the troops to be deployed at today's rally.

According to Amien Rais, the monument square is such "a wide and open field that hopefully it will minimize the possibility of violence."

He issued a call for the rally to be filled with istighfar, tasbih, tahmid, takbir and tahlil, Islamic terms meaning to ask Allah for forgiveness, utter praises glorifying Him, and express gratitude to Him.

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso is scheduled to attend the National Awakening Day ceremony at the Presidential Palace. (team)