Unrest to persist in 1999: Bakin

Unrest to persist in 1999: Bakin

JAKARTA (JP): Chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating
Agency (Bakin), Zaini Azhar Maulani, on Wednesday predicted that
political tension would increase next year, but riots would not
likely match the scale of those which happened in May.

One reason, he said, was that only a small group of people
want a change in state leadership.

He told reporters before a Cabinet plenary meeting at the
State Secretariat that given the different political environment
and conditions next year, "We'll experience an increasing trend
of unrest in 1999, but this will not manifest itself in anything
as big as the mid-May 1998 rioting."

One difference, he said, was that prior to former president
Soeharto's resignation, "almost all the people demanded changes
in the state leadership."

"But now there is only a small group of people that are
described as anarchic who still want a change in the state
leadership," he said without elaborating.

Another factor differentiating the scale of riots next year
was that people would be fed up with all this political
confusion, Maulani added.

Recently the government confirmed the findings of its Joint
Fact-finding Team that during the May riots which caused massive
destruction, 76 women were violated in Jakarta.

The Team also reported more than a 1,000 died in burning
stores and charged that the violence was organized.

The three-star retired general said the increasing political
temperature was logical as there would be two big items on the
political agenda next year -- the general election slated for
June 7 and the General Session of the People's Consultative
Assembly scheduled from Oct. 28 until Nov. 10.

Wednesday's plenary Cabinet meeting, continuing a year-end
tradition from former president Soeharto, was also attended by
Chief Justice Sarwata, Chairman of the Supreme Audit Body Satrio
B. Joedono, and Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council A.A.
Baramuli.

Among other things the meeting heard reports on the proposed
State Budget for the next fiscal year which begins April 1.

The draft would be proposed to the House of Representatives in
January.

After the meeting Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus
quoted President B.J. Habibie as saying that all officials should
use their limited funds as effectively and efficiently as
possible.

Expenses for overseas trips and ceremonies should be made as
low as possible, he added.

Habibie, as quoted by Yunus, also said purchase of materials
and services for the government should be organized openly,
devoid of practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Before the meeting Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs
and Security Feisal Tanjung made an attempt to call on potential
rioters and demonstrators to quit their activities for the sake
of the nation.

"Our economic development is halted, while a number of foreign
investors have withdrawn plans to invest in Indonesia, saying
that is no security assurance for their investment here," he told
reporters at his office.

He said that there was actually no need for demonstrations and
dissatisfaction against the government and described its
commitment to reform as serious.

Indications of this commitment, he said, were to be found in
its seriousness in holding a fair and honest general election,
among other things through the organization of a process which
would no longer be dominated by the government.

He said the government's commitment to reform could also be
seen through the freedom given to former detainees and those
involved in 1965's abortive coup attempt by the outlawed
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) to vote in next year's general
election.

The assurance is included in the government draft on elections
which is currently being deliberated in the House of
Representatives.

"But whether they will be able to be elected would depend on
the People's Consultative Assembly," Feisal said.

Minister of Justice Muladi last week cited Habibie's promise
that the government will soon release 50 political prisoners or
detainees, including East Timorese and Acehnese activists. (imn)