Sutiyoso defends firm actions against rioters

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)