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)