TNI says protests orchestrated

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said on Friday that the violent protests against the state security bill over the past two days in Jakarta were planned by groups with hidden agendas.

"They have their goals. I call upon whoever is behind this (the protests) to simply appear.

"Don't use students, hoodlums and students to create chaos. Do not hide behind the movement," Wiranto announced at the State Palace prior to attending a farewell party hosted by President B.J. Habibie for legislators, who approved the state security bill the previous day.

The situation in the capital started to calm down at about 7 p.m. on Friday, shortly after the announcement of the postponement of the bill's enactment.

The troops deployed to the scene of clashes in the Semanggi area in Central Jakarta immediately retreated.

The two days of clashes between security troops and tens of thousands of protesters, including students, activists and commoners, left at least five people dead from gunshot wounds and one low-ranking officer from the police Mobile Brigade.

Two of the five civilians were fatally shot at about 8:55 p.m. on Friday when people gathered near Danamon Plaza. Shots were reportedly fired blindly by troops inside 10 military trucks passing through Jl. Sudirman.

The shooting came from "the 10 military trucks carrying personnel from the Joint Military-Police Crack Riot Troops and riot troops," eyewitness Hermawan Sulistyo, a National Institute of Sciences researcher, said.

"A nine-year-old boy and a teenager were killed and two other people were wounded," he said.

The fatalities were later confirmed by staff at the nearby Jakarta Hospital and Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, which respectively received the bodies.

About five minutes before the shooting, the Australian Embassy in Kuningan, about three kilometers from the scene, was shot at three times by an unidentified group driving a Toyota Kijang van.

When contacted last night, Ambassador John P. McCarty confirmed the incident.

"But it's not clear yet how many shots were fired. We didn't call the police because they were already there," he said.

According to Wiranto, the plotters of the two days of violent protests were irresponsible people.

"If we disagree with something, let's talk in an elegant, noble and fine way," the four-star general said.

When forced by journalists to name the parties, Wiranto replied: "You know who these people are. You must know, please do not pretend you know nothing."

Separately, Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis claimed on Friday that four former high-ranking government officials and three others were behind the mass rally.

"They include Pak Soebroto (former minister of mines and energy), Cahyono, Andi Shiarani and Trias," Zainuri said, giving no details of the others.

"They were caught holding a meeting at the Sahid Jaya hotel on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta, at about 1 p.m. on Thursday," he said without further explanation.

None of the four men were available for comment, but Soebroto's secretary was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday that her boss was in Sydney, Australia.

Earlier at TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Wiranto said troops would take stern measures against protesters in order to restore peace and order.

"We don't want this country, which is already under pressure and facing the important event of a People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) General Session, to be plunged into disorder by anarchic actions," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Violent behavior such as committing arson, throwing Molotov cocktails and hurling stones during the demonstrations were committed not by students but by hoodlums, he said.

The number of people injured during the two days of clashes reached more than 100.

The first three civilians were shot to death from a distance. None of them were students.

"One of them is still unidentified. The other two were identified as Fadly, 21, and Zaenal bin Zudin, 22," forensic doctor Abdul Mu'nim Idries from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital said.

Fadly, an employee of Survey Research Indonesia, was shot in the back, while Zaenal was shot in the back of the head. The bullet exited through to his right eye shot.

"None of the bullets were found, which could make it hard to investigate the shootings," Mu'nim said.

Three students and a man were still being treated for serious gunshot wounds.

The dead officer was identified as I Ketut Suparman.

Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said the officer was hit by a speeding Kijang van while attempting to disperse protesters on Jl. Gatot Subroto at 11 p.m. on Thursday.

At least 37 people, mainly students from the National University (Unas), are being detained at city police headquarters.

In Semarang, about 100 students continued to demand that the bill be dropped.

"If the security bill is not dropped, we will stage massive protests until it (the law) is revoked. We're not afraid of the military," shouted student N. Fatah.

In Medan, North Sumatra, about 100 students protested on Jl. Gatot Subroto on Friday. "We want the newly appointed legislators to drop the bill," Andi Sose, the group coordinator, said.

"The law just brings military power once again to rule society," they shouted.

In Bandung, students staged a solidarity protest for victims of Jakarta's Thursday incident. Among the group were Youth Front of National Mandate Party, Bandung Students Communication Forum and Indonesian Labor Solidarity.

"Our voices are one. Revoke the bill," said a student.

In Surabaya, hundreds of students were involved in a clash with security officers in front of the council building. About 20 students suffered minor injuries.

Sources claim there will be another mass rally on Saturday. (03/04/43/39/har/nur/edt/asa/jun/ylt/bsr)