Security authorities gear up for upcoming major political events
Security authorities gear up for upcoming major political events
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday that the
security authorities had taken all necessary measures to prevent
chaos in the capital in connection with two major political
events on April 29 and April 30.
"I've reported to the Vice President that the police and the
military have put in place all preventive measures and a
contingency plan to deal with any unexpected developments on both
days," Susilo said after attending a coordinating meeting on
security affairs chaired by Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.
Susilo was referring to the planned istighotsah (mass prayer)
organized by the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization, and
the House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session.
"The police have called for a peaceful mass prayer ... and now
it's up to the people and the leaders whether they want to keep
the capital safe or not," he said.
National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said he had issued
the necessary orders to all police chiefs across the country and
had coordinated the measures to be taken with the TNI for both
events.
"I have instructed all police chiefs to take resolute action
against all forms of anarchy as we (the security authorities)
will never allow it to prevail," Bimantoro also said after
attending the meeting.
He said the security authorities had been working together
with the NU to prevent disturbances and would conduct raids in
order to maintain security.
"NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi has guaranteed that all the
participants at the mass prayer meeting will return home directly
after the prayer is over. However, we cannot prevent people from
staying on in the capital for a few more days," Bimantoro said.
He further said that no protesters would be allowed to enter
the House compound on April 30, when the legislature is to
present its evaluation of President Abdurrahman Wahid's reply to
its first memorandum of censure, and possibly issue a second
censure of the President.
It has been reported that thousands of Abdurrahman loyalists
will throng the capital on both days to express their support for
the embattled President.
NU's East Java chairman Maschan Moesa, however, asserted on
Monday that the label "death squad" slapped on President
Abdurrahman's die-hard followers was "merely a political maneuver
by the President's political opponents".
Ali said President Abdurrahman's political rivals would stop
at nothing to oust him, including creating "such a negative image
of the NU".
Abdurrahman supporters have formed the Defenders of Truth
volunteer force, the members of which have pledged to defend
Abdurrahman to the death.
"(The existence of) such a force must not be exaggerated as
kanuragan (training so as to achieve invulnerability against
weapons) is common and is practiced by NU followers from time to
time ... such as by the NU's Banser and Pagar Nusa civilian
militias. But Gus Dur's political opponents are taking advantage
of it to tarnish the NU's image," Ali said in Surabaya, referring
to Abdurrahman by his nickname.
He further pointed out that when another Muslim task force,
the Lasykar Jihad, brandished weapons in a protest at the House
compound, no similar political statements had been made.
Separately, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi
said on Monday that should disturbances break out during the mass
prayer, the police would hold the leaders of the pro-Gus Dur
groups, the Istighotsah organizers, and the NU chairman
responsible.
"I have heard the organizers of the prayer meeting say that
security is in the hands of the police, and that should anything
happen, they could not be held responsible for it," Didi said.
"Security is in our hands all right, but the organizers of the
prayer cannot wash their hands of any incidents that may occur
before, during or after the prayer meeting. The police will hold
them to account."
Didi made the statement after the chief of the Istighotsah
organizing committee, Manarul Hidayat, met with several senior
officers of the National Police and the Jakarta Police on Monday
to discuss the security issue.
In Bogor, the local police have established several check
points with some 200 officers being assigned to monitor any
irregular movements of large numbers of people to the capital.
"Everybody will have to go through a series of check points as
some people may acquire weapons after they have passed through
one check point," Bogor Police chief Sr. Comr. Taufik Ridha said
on Monday.
Meanwhile, President Abdurrahman also said on Monday that the
country is at a critical juncture but that its problems can be
overcome.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony for four new ambassadors,
Abdurrahman called on the envoys, "to explain to the outside
world that the situation is still stable and the government's
determination (to maintain order) has not diminished."
The four were the new Indonesian Ambassador to Australia,
Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, to the United Nations, Makmur Widodo,
to China, A. Kustia, and to Rumania, Toto Soegiharto.
"We are currently negotiating with the IMF (International
Monetary Fund) to get a final outcome. The rupiah is now
weakening but hopefully that can be settled as soon as possible,"
he said. (21/byg/dja/edt/nur/ylt)