The Jakarta military commander Major-General Syafrie Syamsuddin announced Wednesday that all demonstrations on the streets of the capital are banned forthwith, because they cause disruption to the traffic and disturb the general public.

"I have now specified that I will not permit any groups to hold demonstrations in the streets," the commander said. "If any groups go ahead regardless, we will take stern measures," the major-general said, without specifying what these measures would be.

Public relations chief of the command LtColonel Nachrowi said: "We will act to prevent people from taking to the streets but if they succeed in getting onto the streets we will take action to stop them. We will have vehicles on hand to take them back." He said that as part of the measures planned against demonstrators, 25,000 security personnel have been given instructions on how to handle any actions by masses of people.

Nachrowi said that in addition to the prohibition against all forms of street demonstrations, there will be a prohibition on all public events for one week before and one week after the General Session of the MPR. This will include a prohibition on meetings and seminar. The only exceptions will be religious events and weddings.