PPM defends its decision to guard Special Session

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Pemuda Panca Marga (PPM) youth organization have defended their decision to safeguard this week's Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, calling it volunteer work carried out on their own initiative.

It's a duty call to take part in securing such an important event, which would determine the future of more-than 200 million Indonesians, they said.

One PPM member, Yaning, while on guard at the front gate of the People's Consultative Assembly/House of Representatives (MPR/DPR) compound, told The Jakarta Post, "No one forced us to take part in this activity. I voluntarily gave my name to my organization."

Yaning, who is in her 20s, added that she was very proud of being one of the thousands of civilians and police and military personnel involved in securing the session.

Yaning's fellow PPM members echoed the feeling.

"We enjoy the task, although I am getting bored with the meals as there is no variation at all," said Trianto, 19.

According to the PPM members, they had trained for three months on how to deal with protesters and groups which might force themselves into the MPR/DPR compound to disturb the session.

"We're trained, for instance, not to get easily provoked or emotionally influenced by any kind of strong protest against the government," Yaning said.

Dressed in their military fatigues and geared with rattan sticks, the 50 PPM members are stationed at the front entrance of the MPR/DPR complex.

They are part of the 125,000-strong civilian force involved in the city's joint security system, which is aimed at making the session a success. They are also dispatched at other strategic sites and public locations, such as shopping centers and main junctions around the capital.

Participating groups include those from other youth organizations, including Pemuda Pancasila, Warga Jaya and the Islamic Banser Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

This number excludes 20,000 police and military personnel.

Members of Banser NU reportedly left the site beginning last Wednesday. They will be used to protect NU's leaders and Islamic boarding schools.

According to Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, the presence of the great number of civilians taking part in the city's security system was not a mass mobilization.

"Who said it's a mobilization?" he asked reporters on Friday afternoon after inspecting preparations by his personnel at the MPR/DPR compound.

"What is wrong if there are components of people willing -- without being asked -- to sincerely help (us) safeguard the session?" Wiranto asked.

Civilians

When asked to comment on the recruitment of civilians, City Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman, said the security authority first invited representatives of the organizations to discuss the possibility of them taking part in the security project.

"We first listed the available groups in the society and then invited them for a meeting, asking them whether they wanted to join us in securing the session," Noegroho told the Post while accompanying Wiranto during the Friday's inspection at the MPR/DPR complex.

On Thursday, he said the decision to enlist civilians in the security system was mainly for the success of the session due to the lack of personnel and the mounting workload.

Noegroho insisted on Friday that the City Police is not giving the civilians any kind of compensation.

"We only provide them with meals and snacks," he said.

According to many of the civilians, including Yaning and Trianto, they received an allowance from their organization.

But none of them were willing to name a specific amount.

Noegroho also reiterated that the rattan sticks carried by the civilians were not allowed to be used to hit people, including demonstrators.

Besides helping the security officers block demonstrators who planned to force entry into the MPR/DPR complex, some of the civilians would be assigned to manage traffic flow around the area during the session and any possible rallies later.

"So we are not pitting civilians against (civilians) the demonstrators," he said.

Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman, who also attended the inspection, agreed, urging people to avoid prejudice over the placement of the civilian groups inside the complex.

"Please don't suspect them. They are here to help prevent any disruption ahead and during the MPR session," he said. (emf/bsr/ivy)