Plans to disrupt MPR session uncovered

JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata announced yesterday that documentary evidence had been found of plans to disrupt next month's General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

He said the documents indicated a particular group planned to wreak havoc on the General Session.

"The group apparently does not only plan to cause trouble before the session starts, but also during the session and after the session ends.

"This group of people call themselves the Democratic Order," the two-star general said yesterday.

He refused to provide further details about the documents or the group.

Hamami made the comments after installing Lt. Col. Sukirno as chief of the newly established Jakarta Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob).

Brimob, which has about 12,000 personnel, was previously part of the Directorate of On-Alert Police Unit (Samapta). But yesterday's ceremony accorded Brimob independent status.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said police were still trying to identify the members of the Democratic Order group who allegedly intended to disrupt the General Session.

"The group has been identified. But none of its members have been arrested. We're still investigating them."

Aritonang also refused to provide additional information about the documents or the group.

"All that we can tell you now is that some documents, which have been seized, indicate the existence of a group which has plans to ruin the processes of the General Session."

He said the documents were found this week at a location within Greater Jakarta.

"We have not gone too far with our investigation into the documents and we have not found the group members, so we can't tell whether they only aimed at disrupting the session or whether they planned something beyond that."

It was unclear whether the documents or the group might have been involved in January's explosion at a Tanah Tinggi apartment in Central Jakarta, he said.

Hamami reiterated that his office would treat the matter seriously to prevent the group implementing its plan.

"We'll continue the investigation in accordance with the regulations. There'll be no hesitation to take action against any party which attempts to create trouble." (cst)