Rioters to be shot on sight during MPR session: Police

JAKARTA (JP): City police will take firm measures against any parties attempting to disrupt the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), including shooting on sight any rioters, the police chief insisted on Friday.

The session starts on Monday.

After inspecting joint security troops, Chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi also said that his personnel would prohibit any rallies or protests breaching the law and disperse any groups staging protests without previously notifying the police as ruled by a prevailing law.

The police will, however, first adopt a persuasive approach in all of their actions to avoid unrest, he said.

"We have standard operating procedures in securing the Annual Session," the two-star police general said.

Troops from the Air Force's Special Unit, Jakarta Military Command and People's Security (Kamra), among others, were inspected at the Jakarta Police Headquarters parking lot.

In his speech, Nurfaizi reminded his personnel, who -- according to the law -- will be in the front line in facing any disruptions, that they were protected by law in carrying out their duties to secure the Aug. 7 to Aug. 18 Annual Session.

"Therefore, police personnel should not be hesitant to take stiff measures fearing that they will be blamed later by the public for violating human rights," he said.

As long as the personnel act in line with standard operating procedures, everything will be OK, Nurfaizi added.

The city will be packed by some 66,300 security personnel, including those from other provincial police forces, to help secure the session and the capital.

Several reserve troops have also been prepared as backup should the situation get out of hand.

Nurfaizi earlier told all mass organizations across the country not to mobilize their masses during the session.

"The mobilization will only trigger confrontation with other groups, which may bring fatalities, because people can be easily provoked in such a setting," he told representatives of several organizations, such as the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Collective Forum (Forbes) and representatives of Maluku people in Jakarta, in a meeting at his office.

In Bandung, West Java Police vowed to secure the province in an effort to ensure security and order in Jakarta before, during and after the session.

West Java Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Riva'i Siregar said that 12,000 out of 19,000 police personnel would be on alert.

More than 5,700 personnel will be fielded at certain spots, including along roads leading to Jakarta, he said, citing the north coastal route, including the Cirebon-Purwakarta segment, and the southern route via Banten.

"West Java is the buffer zone for the capital city. Rioting in Jakarta could spread to West Java and vice versa, while the sending of civilian militiamen from West Java should also be stopped."

West Java Police have identified 13 vulnerable spots in the areas bordering West Java and Jakarta.

In a related development, an international philatelic expo scheduled to be held at the Jakarta Convention Center from Aug. 15 through Aug. 21 has been canceled.

Lt. Gen. (ret) Mashudi, chairman of the Indonesia 2000 as the expo is called, announced on Friday that the expo had to be canceled despite President Abdurrahman Wahid's pledge to open the event.

"But, accepting the reason of the National Police chief that the JCC building is very close to the Assembly complex, we have canceled the event."

According to Mashudi, the Indonesian Philatelists Association, PT Pos Indonesia, as the organizer, and the Federation of International Philately have acknowledged the cancellation.

"A substitute expo is scheduled to be held at the same venue from March 29 to April 4, 2002."

The delay will cause participants from 58 countries to wait two years to enjoy the "open class" collection, Mashudi said.

In Surabaya, the capital of East Java, some 2,000 security personnel participated in a parade on Friday ahead of the Annual Session led by provincial police chief Insp. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.

Among the forces participating in the parade were task forces of Banser of the Nahdlatul Ulama and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) as well as police and military.

"I am aware that East Java hosts stations and ports which are main gates to Jakarta. Therefore we will intensify security at those points to prevent possible mass deployment to the capital," Da'i said. (asa/25/nur/sur/edt)