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)