By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, April 30 (ANTARA) - If trade unions do not cancel their plans, Jakarta will see masses of workers taking to the streets on Monday to celebrate World Labour Day which falls on May 1.
At least 10,000 workers have plans to hold rallies in the capital city to demand the cancellation of the government's plan to revise the labour law - a plan the workers think will harm their interests.
Though intelligence officials have given the assurance that there will be no rioting, authorities seem to have high concern that the massive labour rallies could turn violent or be marked by anarchic acts.
In order to secure the capital city, security officials will be deployed in three locations in Jakarta before and during the planned rallies on Monday.
The Jakarta city administration will deploy about 21,000 security troops consisting of 12,000 policemen; 5,000 military soldiers and 4,000 municipal policemen as well as officials of the Health and Transportation offices.
Jakarta military command chief Maj. Gen. Agustadi said the military would concentrate security personnel in three locations, namely at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, the House of Representatives (PR) building and the presidential palace.
Agustadi said the 5,000 military men who will secure the mass labour demonstration will include personnel of the Army's air defense units, military policemen, marines and the Air Force's special troops.
"All of the security personnel (of the Indonesian military) will be put on standby in their respective posts until the Jakarta Police and the Jakarta city Administration need them. We will concentrate them in three locations," he said.
It is reasonable for the Jakarta administration to prepare security measures considering the large number of workers planning to take to the streets, although intelligence officials have guaranteed that there will be no violence.
National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar said here on Friday there was no indication riots will take place in the country during the observance of World Labour Day on May 1.
"No, there is no indication that the celebration will trigger riots. Who says so?," he said after attending a cabinet meeting chaired by Vice President Yusuf Kalla at the Vice Presidential Office.
He said there was no intelligence information that a riot would take place so that workers who were willing to celebrate the labour day were pleased to do it in an orderly and peaceful manner.
"Hopefully, it will proceed well and securely," he added. He called on those planning to demonstrate on May 1 to conduct the rally well and not to turn anarchic.
He also denied reports that the authorities had issued a shoot-on-the-spot order for demonstrators found taking anarchic actions.
"There is no need for a shoot-on-the-spot order," he added.
Despite the BIN?s assurance, Vice President Yusuf Kalla called on the people not to celebrate World Labour Day out of proportion.
So, the world labor day should be celebrated with joy, not with uncertain rallies or demonstrations because they could be abused by outside elements.
The Vice President said laborers should not plan rallies on Monday if what they were demanding was the cancellation of the government's plan to revise the manpower law because they had held similar demonstrations some time ago and the government was responding to their demand.
According to House Speaker Agung Laksono, the labourers should not be worried because the House would not deliberate the bill in the current session?s period.
The House Speaker said the House had completed its recess and would commence its sessions to deliberate 29 of the 58 bills in the coming 2.5 months.
The revision of the manpower law ould not be deliberated yet in the next session period because its revised draft had not yet been submitted by the government.
Agung Laksono called on all sides to restrain themselves in the face of the planned massive demonstrations by workers during the World Labour Day celebration in the country on May 1, 2006.
"Don't react in an exaggerated way to the rallies. There should be no shoot-on-the spot order," the House Speaker said at a meeting with media editors here Saturday night.
He said people needed to give opportunities to labourers to express their aspirations but as House Speaker he also called on the labourers to restrain themselves and not to allow their rallies be marred by anarchc acts.
"Make sure no violence will take place," he requested.
He said the workers and their leaders should be able to organize themselves so that violence and anarchic acts would not occur.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is on an overseas trip, appeared to be not too worried about the planned nation-wide rally by workers on Monday.
The impression that Yudhoyono was unperturbed was gained by Vice President Jusuf Kalla when seeing off the President on the latter's departure for a tour of a number of Middle Eastern countries at Halim Perdanakusumah airport.
"Labor Day on May 1 is also observed in socialist countries but there is nothing special about it. If you want to commemorate it, go ahead," Kalla said when asked what President Yudhoyono's directives were in relation with Labour Day.
The President is to make state visits to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Jordan from April 25 to May 4.
Workers organizations were reported to be planning to mobilize 10,000 of their members in a massive protest in Jakarta on Labour Day, May 1.
Meanwhile, Police Chief Gen. Sutanto said at Halim Perdanakusumh airport that the police would ensure freedom of the workers to express their aspirations.
However, he warned that the protestors should not violate legal regulations and existing norms by forcing their own will on those who do not want to join them in the demonstration. (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/E002) (T.C/A014/C/H-AJM/E002) 30-04-2006 00:33:27
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