APSN Banner

Alert leaves Jakarta mystified

Source
South China Morning Post - February 24, 2000

Vaudine England, Jakarta – Officials and residents of Jakarta on one of its more peaceful days were surprised yesterday to hear President Abdurrahman Wahid proclaim a state of "high alert" in the capital to guard against a large demonstration that no one could find.

"For today, Jakarta is on No 1 alert by the police because there is a plan for a big demonstration," Mr Wahid told a seminar of business people at the presidential palace. "The power is used only to monitor the situation and to guard freedom of speech," he said.

Senior military and palace sources at first denied the claim but in the course of the day changed their statements to agree with the President. Jakarta police chief Major-General Nurfaizi said on TVRI state television that Jakarta's alert status had been upgraded. "This morning, Jakarta's security situation was raised to alert one ... so what the President said is true," he said. "But now, in line with developments, we have reduced it to level three."

Indonesia's top legislator Amien Rais yesterday assured Mr Wahid that his presidency was not under threat, the state Antara news agency said. "Stay put, Gus Dur. No one will unseat you," Mr Rais was quoted by Antara as saying, referring to Mr Wahid by his nickname.

The only demonstration was by a group of a few hundred people at the Attorney-General's office, calling for prompt investigation of former president Suharto and of military human rights abusers. Police fired warning shots and at least 12 people were injured when protesters smashed down a gate in front of the office.

This latest mixed message from the presidential palace appeared to be yet another example of Mr Wahid's propensity to make startling statements which, if they have a particular meaning, refer to more obscure matters than are immediately apparent.

Mr Wahid denies another reshuffle is planned, but Parliament's approval this week of planned increases in fuel and electricity prices has raised fears that a new season of street protest could be on its way.

Country