Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia
Source APC Newsgroup: act.indonesia
Written by: tapol@gn.apc.org
Date: 11 Nov 1998 01:55:48
Subject: What's up in Jkt
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (TAPOL)Source: SUARA MERDEKA 10/11/98
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ABRI warned of bloody fights over MPR sessionJAKARTA (JP): As the Armed Forces (ABRI) further tightens its security
cordon around the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) complex, more and
more people are raising fears about possible bloody clashes between
opponents and supporters of the MPR Special Session.The concern is prompted by the deployment of 30,000 troops and police and
about 150,000 voluntary civilian guards, including the politically
uninitiated from outside Jakarta, to secure the session."Starting on Monday, anyone entering the MPR building and its compound will
have to produce the pass cards issued by the organizing committee of the
session," Police spokesman Brig.Gen Togar M. Sianipar told reporters on
Sunday.About 160 university rectors from across the country who held a meeting in
Bandung, West Java, Saturday, urged ABRI to protect students who, as a
moral force, are fighting for the people's aspirations."We stands united to defend our students in their fight for reform," the
rectors said in a statement they called the Bandung Declaration.H.S. Dillon, a leader of the Forum for the Fostering of National Unity
(Bakom PKB), on Sunday urged ABRI Commander General Wiranto to prevent a
situation that would pit brother against brother."Please, General Wiranto, do not pit brother against brother," appealed
Dillon in a letter to The Jakarta Post in connection with the deployment of
the civilians to face demonstrators who oppose the MPR session.Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubwono X warned over the weekend
against deploying civilians to secure the session as it could fuel
unnecessary conflicts." If clashes take place, the leaders must bear the blame," the sultan
warned.The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association lambasted ABRI on
Sunday for taking such excessive security measures around the MPR building
to maintain the incumbent political regime."This once again testifies how politically and technically incompetent is
the present administration in fairly managing the people's aspirations,"
the association said in a statement signed by chairman Hendardi.Political scientist Daniel Sparinga condemned ABRI for allowing civilians
to help secure the session as this would only pit civilians against
civilians."Why must ABRI go overboard against demonstrations protesting the MPR
session," Sparinga said in Semarang on Sunday.Dillon warned that the civilian guards had not been trained long enough to
be able to control demonstrations without resorting to violence."Confronting students who are fighting for a cleaner, honest, more
equitable Indonesia with these groups (civilian guards) is tantamount to
pitting brother against brother," Dillon cautioned.Dillon appealed to Gen. Wiranto to allow students to present their demands
to the legislators. Likewise, if others march against these students let
them too present their support for the incumbents, he said."But please keep these two opposing groups apart. These students are our
children, our future. However, if let blood flow tomorrow, if you turn away
and let brother kill brother, history will never forgive you, Pak Wiranto,"
Dillon added in his appeal.Meanwhile Antara reported that the controversial barbed wire was being
dismantled on Sunday morning.In Yogyakarta, Faisal Basri, secretary-general of the National Mandate
Party, warned on Sunday that if supporters and opponents of the MPR session
clashed it would be ABRI that would reap the biggest benefit."Why, because if chaos takes place, ABRI would declare martial law and take
over power without an election. Then we will find ourselves in jail,"
Faisal said.He added ABRI was currently striving to maintain the powerful
sociopolitical role it had during the Soeharto regime.Faisal recalled how the MPR had been tricked to include the appointment of
ABRI representatives in the House in one of its draft decrees to be adopted
at the upcoming session.People, he added, should fight against ABRI's dual function but without
creating a chaotic situation which would only further strengthen the
military's position."People also should stand vigilant against those opposed to an election
because they know they will surely lose in an open, fair and honest
election," Faisal said.The Islamic Youth Movement, which groups 12 Islamic youth organizations,
also warned on Sunday of attempts to play one group against another."We should strive to guarantee that the MPR session will not serve only as
a forum to give legitimacy to the present administration," said Idrus
Marham, a spokesman for the movement."But we should avoid physical clashes in the run-up to the MPR Special
Session,"+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath,
Surrey CR7 8HW, UK
Phone: 0181 771-2904 Fax: 0181 653-0322
email: tapol@gn.apc.org
Campaigning to expose human rights violations in
Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and AcehJoin us to celebrate TAPOL's 25th anniversary on
20 October 1998. Contact us for ticket details.
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