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)