Police to deploy more personnel to safeguard MPR General Session
Police to deploy more personnel to safeguard MPR General Session
JAKARTA (JP): In order to preempt any worsening in the
security situation in the capital during the General Session of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) next month, City
security authorities will deploy in greater numbers to ensure
that the annual political event goes ahead smoothly, an officer
said on Thursday.
City Police chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi said a total of 66,304
security personnel from the Jakarta police and several provincial
police forces will be deployed during the event.
"City Police will deploy 19,107 combined personnel from the
police and the military, some 14,926 of which are police officers
with the remaining 4,181 being from the military," he said while
addressing a plenary meeting of the Supreme Advisory Council
(DPA), which discussed security preparations for the annual MPR
session.
Nurfaizi said the remaining 47,197 security personnel would be
requested from provincial police headquarters in Lampung and West
and Central Java.
Present at the meeting, which was chaired by DPA chairman
Achmad Tirtosudiro, were National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo,
City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and Governor
Sutiyoso.
Earlier on Tuesday last week, Rusdihardjo told the media that
the National Police would deploy 28,270 personnel to safeguard
the session.
Nurfaizi didn't give any detailed reasons for the police to
increase the number of security force personnel to be deployed
for the MPR session.
"We have requested a budget of Rp 9 billion (US$1 million)
from the Ministry of Finance for the event, but the ministry only
approved a grant of Rp 7 billion," he said.
The amount stipulated by Rusdihardjo, however, contrasted with
a request made by Nurfaizi to the city administration for a
subvention of Rp 26 billion.
"I can't grant that amount of money. I don't know where we
could get the money from as the City Budget is already in
effect," Governor Sutiyoso told reporters last week in response
to the request.
"If the police want me to revise the budget, I must secure the
approval of city councillors. And it's impossible to do so at
such short notice," added Sutiyoso.
He, however, pledged to make a contribution towards the
financing of the operation.
"I don't know about the amount yet, but we'll help to finance
the operation. However, we can't afford to shoulder the whole
burden," said Sutiyoso.
The City administration contributed Rp 2.5 billion each to the
police and military for the maintenance of security during the
June 1999 general election.
"I'll ask residents, especially those living in crowded
residential areas, to increase their alertness following rumors
of security disturbances during the MPR session," Sutiyoso told
the meeting on Thursday. (nvn)