Sutiyoso defends firm actions against rioters

JAKARTA (JP): While suggesting that the city authority has had enough of all persuasive approaches, Governor Sutiyoso defended on Thursday the city police's plan to take firm action against any violent demonstrations during the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"We have asked the residents, through their informal leaders and the mass media, to restrain from taking part in any violence, but to no avail.

"It's time to take some real action as part of law enforcement," Sutiyoso told reporters at City Hall.

"We cannot let unrest and lootings continue. We have to do something," he said.

The governor was pointing to the fact that city residents seemed to have enjoyed looting, as seen on television during different cases of unrest.

"Look at what happened last Friday when a market was on fire in Kramatjati, East Jakarta. Residents looted the stores as soon as the fires were put out," he said.

"They likely thought that looting was an heroic action. I urge the city police to investigate the case as we have records of the lootings," he added.

Sutiyoso said further that such incidents would only prevent foreign investors from coming here as they were worried about security conditions in the country.

"Residents must keep in mind that security stability is the key to our economic recovery," he said.

"Those prospective investors watch closely whatever happens here. If they think the condition isn't getting better, they will just skip Indonesia," he added.

The governor said city residents were also responsible for maintaining security in the city by not taking part in any more mass unrest and looting.

"It's our own responsibility. Stop any violent action or lootings if you want the economy to recover," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the heads of various city agencies discussed security arrangements for the city during the Assembly session.

One of the recommendations of the meeting was that police officers should open fire to immobilize perpetrators and looters if things went out of control.

Sutiyoso also asked residents to understand the great pressure that soldiers and police officers had to face on the front line.

"You must understand the pressure they (security officers) are under when they deal with the demonstrators. They also are human beings that can loose their patience too," he said.

"Security officers are also likely to become victims of the demonstrators' brutality," he added, while citing that the media never blew up the residents' brutality of the officers.

Security officers are to blame for several violent clashes with protesters.

"We can't let the officers carry out their duties with full confidence because of the allegations. We must help them regain their confidence," he said.

"If they are afraid to carry out their duties, what can we civilians do?" he asked. (nvn)