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Indonesian Defense Minister: Today’s Protests Will Not Be Large
Friday, 30 September, 2005 | 01:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono has said he thought that the protests on Thursday (29/09) related to the fuel price increases would not be large in size.

Sudarsono made this statement in response to a question by Korean Republic Embassy Military Attaché Lee Yong Kil during a meeting held by the defense minister and defense attachés of friendly countries at the Defense Department in Jakarta on Thursday (29/09).

Lee wanted to know whether or not the protests were only temporary.

“We do not know yet. However, I don’t think these protests will be large in size,” stated Sudarsono.

The minister added that he did not yet know how many people were involved in the protests on Thursday.

“However, according to plan, apparently some 14,000 protesters will be going to the State Palace on Thursday afternoon,” said Juwono.

The Director-General for Defense Strategy, Maj. Gen. Dadi Susanto, said that the preventative security measures needed to be carried out.

However, for the time being, the Indonesian Military (TNI) will only back up the police as security tasks are the responsibility of the National Police.
(Fanny Febiana-Tempo News Room)