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06/30/07 00:35
Legislator: Ambon incident really embarasses head of state
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - It was natural if President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
was highly resented and angry over the Ambon incident which has belittled the
position of the head of state, a legislator said.
Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) House faction
Tjahjo Kumolo said here on Friday that the incident was a serious problem, not
only a carelessness. Stern actions should be immediately taken against the
chief of the presidential security task force, provincial police head and
regional military commander overseeing Maluku.
The Ambon incident broke out when the president was attending a ceremony to
mark the 14th National Family Day at the Ambon Merdeka Square. But suddenly and
unexpectedly, a group of `Cakalele` dancers showed up to perform a traditional
dance with swords and shields.
They danced in front of the head of state and then unfurled banners saying
"RMS" (South Maluku Republic).
"This showed the security and intelligence officials didn`t work in Ambon and
are oblivious at all. The selection was never done at the begining before the
show was performed," he said.
In the meantime, Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Vice Chairman Irman
Gusman said security agencies were lax in ensuring the security of President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s visit in Ambon, Maluku, and that`s why a disturbing
incident could happen during the National Family Day (Harganas) observance in
the city.
"It happened because of the security agencies` laxity," Irman Gusman said in
his comment on a disturbance which occurred earlier in the day when the
president was attending ceremonies to mark the 14th National Family Day in
Ambon`s Merdeka Square.
He said the DPD deplored the incident during Yudhoyono`s visit to Ambon, and
urged security officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
"We are going to ask DPD members from Maluku province to pay serious attention
to the case," Irman Gusman said.
The highlight of the National Family Day celebration which was attended by
President Yudhoyono was disrupted by a group of irresponsible persons who
performed an unscheduled "Cakalele" dance.
It was reported from Ambon that the incident happened at 10.30 a.m local time,
after Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu had delivered a speech at the event
at Merdeka Square.
About 30 people clad in Maluku traditional costume, suddenly appeared from
nowwhere in front of the audience and performed a cakalele dance although the
show was not part of the program made by the event`s organizers.
Startled by the "illegal" activity, President Yudhoyono said that if it had
been staged with certain purposes, social and moral sanctions should be imposed
against the perfomers and the organizers.
"If the dancers had certain purposes, there should be resolute action against
them," the President said, adding that he was informed earlier about possible
illegal activity outside the agenda of the Harganas committee. (*)
Copyright © 2007 ANTARA
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