Planned massive rally may affect public life

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)