Jakarta bracing for Thursday’s massive rallies

Jakarta Police Spokesman Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said 10,000 officers were being prepared for the day and would be deployed to safeguard several main areas where protest rallies were expected, including the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, the State Palace and the House of Representatives.

Ton Abdillah Has, one of the GIB initiators who is also secretary general of the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM), said the peaceful rallies would, among others, be held in front of the State Palace on Thursday.

He said that about 10 thousand demonstrators who were derived from at least 54 peoples elements such as students, activists, non-governmental organizations, intellectuals and religious leaders would take part in the rallies. "The rallies will be held as an expression of the peoples disappointment and concern over the governments present performance which we considered has yet to satisfy the people," Abdillah said. According to Abdillah, the people are not yet satisfied with the present government, particularly with regard to issues such as the alleged framing of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recently, the Rp6.7 trillion bailout provided for Bank Century and the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Indonesia and China which they said would harm the interest of the people. "GIB calls on all of the nations exponents who care for the nations present fate to take to the streets to express their common concern," he said. He said that the government in its first 100-day program was not yet able to answer several pressing problems such as poverty, unemployment, health guarantee, quality education and legal justice for the people. It is on this objective basis that the 54 peoples elements grouped in the GIB will organize the peaceful rallies outside the Merdeka Palace on Thursday, January 28.

On a separate occasion, chairman of the Peoples Committee Presidium of the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement (GMNI), Muhammad Item also voiced the same opinion. "We dont take the massive number of demonstrators for granted but we focus on the deployment of cadres and activists so that we would not disrupt public order and the people would be able to carry out their daily activities," Muhammad Item said.

In the meantime, Chief Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said that the government was taking the necessary steps to anticipate the rallies on Thursday.

"As it used to be, we will never underestimate rallies and will maintain security so that the rally would not turn wild, disturb public order, violate the law and cause physical clashes," Suyanto said on Monday.

He said that rallies were the manifestation of democratic expression which would always be given a room but on condition that they should not disturb public order and would always appreciate the peoples daily activities. "The rallies should be held within the corridor of public order, guaranteed security and peaceful peoples activities. Please go ahead as far as they proceed peacefully and orderly without any vandalism," the minister said.

In the meantime, Jakarta Military Commander Maj Gen Darpito Pudyastungkoro said the security condition around Jakarta in the run-up to the massive rallies was relatively guaranteed. "Up to now, security condition remains conducive. It would be regrettable if irresponsible parties would capitalize on this conducive situation," he said.

He said that so far there had not yet been any request from the police for military personnel to help them carry out security pacification during the rallies on January 28, 2010.

Activists will hold rallies coinciding with the 100th day of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s government. Rallies are also expected in other locations around the country on Thursday. In Palembang, South Sumatra, however, activists will start protesting a day earlier.

They have been spreading invitations via mobile phone to rally on Wednesday and Thursday. One of the messages focuses on the Rp 6.7 trillion ($710 million) bailout of Bank Century, which rumors have links to corruption.

To face the planned rallies, Jakarta Police are preparing 10 thousand personnel that would be rolled out to guard certain spots that would be used for activists to hold their rallies.

According to Jakarta Police Spokesman Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar, about 10,000 officers will be deployed to safeguard several main areas where protest rallies are to take place, including the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, the State Palace and the House of Representatives (DPR).

"A total of 10 thousands officers will be out in force to maintain peace," Boy Rafli Amar said adding that the police would also roll out a water cannon to keep the peace during the planned demonstration.

The Jakarta government meanwhile called on demonstrators not to disturb public order and vandalize public facilities such as parks and flowerpots near the locations of their rallies.

Based on previous rallies so far, many social and public facilities and city parks were damaged because demonstrators trampled on them. Jakarta Deputy Governor Prijanto, therefore, felt the need to remind demonstrators not to destroy public facilities when they hold their rallies.

"We are calling on demonstrators not to disturb public order and cause damage to social and public facilities such as parks and flowerpots. We also hope that they would not litter the areas that could disturb the beauty of the city," the deputy governor said on Tuesday.