Police warn of tense situation ahead of MPR
JAKARTA (JP): The country will be gripped by tension in the days leading up to the Nov. 10 to Nov. 13 Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), according to National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi.
"There'll be no days without demonstrations. The situation will be lively," the three-star general told a meeting with senior media executives at his official residence on Jl. Pattimura in South Jakarta on Tuesday evening.
He urged people from all walks of life, including the media, to help the police maintain security and stability in the capital.
"Don't let irresponsible parties take the chance (to further their own agendas).
"We have to protect the country's security and image together. Should we fail, foreign investors will be reluctant to return here and help us generate economic opportunities," said Roesmanhadi, the first National Police chief to hold the office in the post-Soeharto era.
He also said the rising incidence of crime brought about by the economic crisis could exacerbate the situation.
"Crime has undoubtedly been on the rise," he said, pointing his hands skywards. "New jobs are hard to find."
"Some of our men have said they can no longer guarantee the safety of people out and about at night in certain parts of the city," Roesmanhadi said, giving no details.
The lack of job opportunities means that many people are delighted to get paid Rp 10,000 a day to join in rallies aimed at furthering particular political agendas, he said in reference to rumors that many demonstrators are apolitical hired hands.
"Nowadays, with Rp 4 billion, for example, one could assign a strong group of protesters to occupy the MPR building and thereby change the whole state administration system," he said.
The vast MPR complex on Jl. Gatot Subroto in Central Jakarta and all roads leading to it are under heavy guard by a joint force of military and police personnel assisted by thousands of members of a number of youth organizations.
Enough
It seems that the security authorities do not want to see a repeat of the massive student protests that took place in May, when tens of thousands of university students and activists occupied the MPR complex for a number of days leading up to Soeharto's resignation on May 21.
Roesmanhadi said the police have asked the MPR to provide a special site in the complex where demonstrations can be held. That, he explained, that would bring an end to the severe city- wide traffic congestion that even minor protests now bring about.
The MPR has yet to respond, he added.
During the meeting, Roesmanhadi also briefed media executives about the new law on freedom of expression and showed videos of how protesters hold rallies in foreign countries.
"We should build the same perception of our new law," he told his guests.
During the meeting, executives from the broadcast media asked Roesmanhadi to help protect privately-owned television stations from the threat of mob attack.
"SCTV, TPI and RCTI have been attacked by mobs several times in recent weeks," SCTV director Riza Primadi told the National Police chief.
In response, Roesmanhadi promised to deploy men at the station's offices and broadcasting facilities.
"Just file the report with us first," he said.
He strongly denied accusations that police had attempted to close the investigation into the controversial August 1996 murder of journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, alias Udin.
"We will never close the case. I myself vow to solve the case as soon as possible. But we need people to give us clues," Roesmanhadi said.
Udin was beaten unconscious in his Yogyakarta home and died three days later without ever regaining consciousness. Many believe that he was killed for writing investigative reports detailing alleged corruption in the local bureaucracy. (bsr)