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