Troops to go all out to protect election: Wiranto

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto insisted on Friday that security troops would go all out to safeguard and facilitate the election of the country's president and vice president during the ongoing General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

The General Session would fail if any outsiders were allowed to enter the Assembly's meeting, Wiranto told reporters at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap.

"Demands to allow thousands of people into the session would carry a risk for a possible failure of the meeting and the reform agenda ... and we (the nation) would have no other alternative to solve this nation's problems in an honorable and moral manner," Wiranto, who is also the defense and security minister, told Antara.

Violent clashes between the security troops and thousands of student protesters, who strongly demanded President B.J. Habibie drop his bid for a second term in office, continued for the second day on Friday in Jakarta.

Police recorded late on Friday a total of 170 protestors who were injured both slightly and seriously during the two days of protests. Protesters were prohibited from approaching the Assembly where Habibie delivered his accountability speech on Thursday evening and listened to comments made by the political parties.

A sedan and a motorcycle believed to be carrying plainclothes police officers were set ablaze by a mob early on Friday near the BRI building on Jl. Sudirman, about a kilometer from the Assembly.

The mob, who were watching for security officers among the motorists passing along the street, also seriously damaged a Kijang van in the area.

The crowd, which mostly consisted of local residents and youths, blocked the street by using public buses. The action forced thousands of employees whose offices were located along the street to walk to work.

Most offices decided to close on Friday as the mob and troops continued to clash with each other throughout the day.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Friday night that at least 73 people were arrested during the two-day protest. Most of them were casual workers and street people.

"They will be questioned until the police are satisfied with their answers. Most of the 73 were paid provocateurs. They were caught inciting others to create a disturbance," Zainuri told The Jakarta Post.

The 170 injured mostly comprised students, police and military officers, Zainuri added.

"Of the 25 police officers and five military personnel hurt, at least two suffered serious injuries," he said.

"First Sgt. I Made Pudja was run over by a state-run city bus (PPD), which carried students, and he suffered severe brain damage, and Pvt. Anton Kristanto lost his left eye," the spokesman said.

The tension on Jl. Sudirman and the surrounding area also forced many businesses and banks to close.

Bank Central Asia (BCA) shut down most of its automatic teller machines (ATMs) across the capital, particularly those along Jl. Sudirman.

Lippobank's ATMs in the same area were also closed.

Anti-Habibie protests were not only confined to Jl. Sudirman.

Hundreds of executives from the nearby Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) building joined in singing: Reject Habibie's accountability speech and his bid to rule the country with Gen. Wiranto.

The one-hour protest started at 1 p.m. and took place in the lobby of the JSX building.

"We will continue the protest to boycott trading activities on the stock exchange until our demands are fulfilled," the protesters' spokesman, Aji Barata, said.

Some political leaders joined the rally of stock brokers and other white-collar workers by delivering speeches.

The figures included Assembly Deputy Speaker Matori Abdul Djalil, National Mandate Party secretary-general Faisal Basri, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and economic observer Wimar Witoelar.

"This is the right time for us to take action and take to the streets to back up the students. I suggest that we close the stock exchange building," Faisal Basri told the protesters.

Sarwono also urged the executives to take to the streets. "This is the time for everyone in the country from all walks of life to join hands and help the students," he said.

Matori said, "I know that you all reject the team of Habibie- Wiranto to lead this country because you are tired of living in such a corrupt country.

"I swear to you that I will go all the way in the fight to reject them."

One of the protesters, Indah, told the Post: "We hate Habibie and we are willing to do anything to stop him."

Separately, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais expressed concern over the violent clashes, saying that Indonesia might turn into a barbaric nation if the bloody demonstrations continue.

"The demonstrating students do not need to bring sticks and Molotov cocktails, while security forces should not be so trigger-happy with their tear gas," Amien urged.

During Friday's clashes on Jl. Sudirman, a popular psychic, Ki Gendeng Pamungkas, was seen being arrested and kicked by troops when his red Kijang van arrived in the Semanggi area.

"We saved him from being mobbed by the officers," an activist from PDI Perjuangan, Basir, said.

Ki Gendeng suffered bruises to his face and body.

In Surabaya, at least 500 students from various universities here staged protests in front of the Council building, demanding similar calls.

"Habibie betrayed the reforms as he failed to enforce the law and eradicate collusion, corruption and nepotism. Why bother pick him as the next president? We want a fresh government," said Edwin, one of the activists.

In Ujungpandang, students from the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) strongly condemned Habibie's speech, calling it "merely rethoric". (04/ind/jun/ylt/asa/27/nur/edt)