Venue of Sutiyoso's inauguration undecided

Bambang Nurbianto and Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Fearful of massive demonstrations, the organizers of the inauguration ceremony for the city governor and deputy governor had yet to decide on Sunday on a venue for the ceremony that is due to take place on Monday.

City Council secretary Moerdiman said the organizers had prepared two venues for the event: the City Council building on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, and the Jakarta Fair Ground (PRJ) in Kemayoran, also in Central Jakarta.

"On the invitations, we stated that the venue would be the City Council building, but we have also prepared the PRJ as an alternative venue if the event cannot be held in the City Council building (due to security threats)," Moerdiman told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Sutiyoso said that he was ready for wherever his inauguration would take place. "Like making films, we (Sutiyoso himself and Fauzi Bowo) are only players. And the City Council is the director. We just follow the director's instructions as to where it will take place," he told the press after attending a rehearsal for the installation ceremony on Sunday afternoon at the PRJ.

"The installation ceremony can be held anywhere as this is not against the prevailing regulations," he said.

Meanwhile, the city police began to strengthen security at the City Council building on Sunday in anticipation of demonstrations during Monday's inauguration ceremony.

Razor wire has been strung up along the front fence of the building. Two water cannons and hundreds of police officers have also been deployed.

Moerdiman said the organizers had also prepared a number of helicopters to ferry the governor and deputy governor-elect, Sutiyoso and Fauzi Bowo, as well as other guests to the ceremony.

On election day, Sept. 11, the police used helicopters to transport councillors and Sutiyoso to the City Council building as all the gates to City Hall and the City Council building were blocked by around 20,000 demonstrators.

Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Edmond Ilyas, who is the head of the security task force for the ceremony, said on Sunday that his men had boosted security both at the City Council building and the PRJ.

Edmond, however, refused to reveal the number of officers to be deployed to guard the event, saying this would depend on developments in the field.

Moerdiman said the organizers had circulated some 1,000 invitations to, among others, the 85 members of the City Council, officials, leaders of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public figures and foreign diplomats.

A number of student organizations, the People's Democratic Party (PRD), and many NGOs, including the Islamic Defenders' Front, the Jakarta Residents' Forum (Fakta), Urban Poor Consortium (UPC), and the Betawi People's association (POB), have said they would stage demonstrations on Monday.

They threatened to occupy the council building to foil the inauguration ceremony.

PRD supporters, who rallied against Sutiyoso on Saturday, were involved in a clash with police in front of the council building after they tore down and burned pro-Sutiyoso banners and posters.

Two PRD supporters were arrested and taken to the Central Jakarta police station for questioning.

UPC chairwoman Wardah Hafidz said that the confusion on the part of the organizers over the venue for the ceremony showed that Sutiyoso and Fauzi were not the choice of the Jakarta people although they had been officially elected by the City Council.

"The governor's inauguration day should be a joyful event for all citizens. But, why are they so busy seeking out a safe place? It shows the pair are not credible in the eyes of the public," she said.

A full rehearsal for the inauguration was conducted in Hall B of the PRJ on Sunday, and was attended by Sutiyoso and Fauzi.

Moerdiman said the inauguration could be conducted outside the City Council building, and did not necessarily have to take place before a council plenary session.

"Therefore, a quorum of City Council members is not required for the inauguration," said Moerdiman, adding that the inauguration would be presided over by Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno on behalf of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Meanwhile, councillor Abdul Aziz Matnur of the Justice Party said that councillors from his faction would not attend the inauguration ceremony as the City Council had not responded to public complaints about irregularities during the election.

Aziz said a number of councillors from the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB), who also disagreed with the election result, would follow his party's move.

Aziz reported the irregularities, including the marking of ballot papers and alleged money politics, to the city police, but so far the police response had been unsatisfactory, he said.