Troops to go all out to protect election: Wiranto

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)