Security up at City Council

Security up at City Council

To ensure security during the inauguration of 75 new council
members, the police will reroute traffic heading toward Jl. Kebon
Sirih, Central Jakarta, to Jl. Agus Salim and Jl. KH Wahid Hasyim
from 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Tuesday
that only motorists with an invitation to the ceremony would be
allowed to enter the road leading to the City Council compound.

"We don't want to take any risks ... we are prepare for any
rally or terrorist attack," Tjiptono said.

The swearing-in ceremony will be conducted under tight
security, with at least 100 internal security guards deployed
inside the compound, backed by 1,200 public order officers and
more than 430 police officers.

"We will require all guests, including new councillors, to
undergo security checks," said Mulyadi, head of the council
security.

The Jakarta Post observed on Tuesday visitors passing at least
three security checks in order to enter the main rooms in the
building.

The chairman of the Jakarta General Elections Commission,
Muhamad Taufik, said that Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno
had included two councillors facing fraud allegations in his
decree listing new council members to be inaugurated.

The two, Mustaman and Sumiati Soekarno from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), are being investigated for
document forgery used to run in the April 5 election.

The police are also investigating an alleged vote-buying case
involving Abdullah Prawiradirja, who will also be sworn in on
Wednesday.

If the court finds them guilty, the three could be dismissed
from the council, Taufik said.

The inauguration will be followed by the opening general
session presided over by Dani Anwar of the largest faction, the
Prosperous Justice Party faction. -- JP