President briefs governors, military chiefs on politics

President briefs governors, military chiefs on politics

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie on Saturday briefed the
country's 27 governors, regional military commanders and
provincial police chiefs on political and security issues ahead
of the upcoming Special Session of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR).

Calling on them to help make the nation's political agenda a
success, the President emphasized that preparations and security
measures to safeguard the events must not run counter to
democracy, Antara news agency reported.

"Governors, regional military commanders and provincial police
chiefs should keep their patience when handling street
demonstrations ... because demonstrations are part of
democratization," Habibie was quoted by Minister/State Secretary
Akbar Tandjung as saying.

A new law on freedom of expression was enacted on Oct. 23, but
continuing widespread mass demonstrations show that people remain
unaware of its stipulations.

Hayono Isman, an official of the Movement for Indonesian
Justice and Unity (GKPB), has predicted that student
demonstrations will escalate as the session approaches,
culminating with an attempt to take over the House of
Representatives (DPR).

Under the new law, protesters must notify the police in
writing three days ahead of any planned demonstration. Itemized
details of the notification must include the objectives of the
gathering, the venue, itinerary, time of commencement and
duration, names and addresses of the individuals or groups
organizing the action, equipment to be used and the number of
participants.

Akbar said the President maintained his earlier commitment to
the announced schedule for the Assembly's special session in
November, the general election next May and the presidential
election in December 1999.

Also attending the closed meeting were Minister of Defense and
Security/Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Home
Affairs Syarwan Hamid, Secretary-general of the Defense Ministry
Lt. Gen. Soeyono and the Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical
Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Speaking in a media conference after the meeting, Akbar said
rumors the government mulled moving the site of the Assembly's
special session from the DPR/MPR complex to the nearby Hilton
Hotel were unfounded.

"All preparations are (being made) to hold the Assembly's
special session (Nov. 10 to Nov. 13) at the DPR/MPR complex."

An internal circular issued by the DPR/MPR Secretary-general
Afif Ma'roef said Assembly members from the five factions would
be grouped at the Hilton Hotel and nearby Mulia Hotel. Afif
earlier named the hotels as the designated accommodation for the
legislators during the session.

No mention was made of moving the session site.

Akbar said the meeting on Saturday also discussed the
hullabaloo over State Minister of Food and Horticulture A.M.
Saefuddin's remark about Hinduism.

Akbar said the government was considering bringing together
Saefuddin and prominent Balinese public figures to discuss a
settlement.

Balinese Hindus have staged massive protests demanding
Saefuddin's resignation from the Cabinet after he stated that
Megawati Soekarnoputri -- leader of a faction of the splintered
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- was a Hindu and would
therefore be unsuitable to be the next president.

Also on Saturday, Antara quoted legislator Brig. Gen. (ret) I
Dewa Gde Oka as stating he would resign from the House if Habibie
did not dismiss Saefuddin forthwith.

"If by Nov. 10, when the special session commences, the
government does not take firm action as people demand, I will
resign," he said. (imn)