Crackdown ordered on pro-Wahid squads

Wahid still enjoys popular support in his home province of East Java

In this story: Crowds hit Jakarta ahead of showdown 'Inappropriate actions' RELATED STORIES, SITES

By staff and wire reports

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia's national police chief has ordered a crackdown on paramilitary training in East Java by supporters of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Thousands of members of the "Defenders of Truth" squad, who have pledged their lives to defend the president, have been going through military-style exercises in the province.

Wahid is fighting to keep his power after parliament censured him last February for alleged roles in two financial scandals.

Opposition lawmakers have hinted parliament is likely to issue a second memorandum to defiant Wahid, who still maintains he is innocent.

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"I've ordered the East Java police chief to disband such activities, as civilians are clearly banned from conducting military training," national police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro told reporters, as quoted by The Jakarta Post.

Crowds hit Jakarta ahead of showdown

In East Java, Wahid's home province, over 20,000 people had signed up to declare their willingness to die as martyrs for the president, who once chaired the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Nuril Arifin, commander of the suicide squads, claimed that tens of thousands of his people have flooded Jakarta ahead of a showdown between Wahid and an angry parliament on April 30.

The suicide squads have stoked fears more violence could rack the already bloodied country, but Arifin pledged his troops would not resort to violence during the protest.

"Our force will not use violence, we plan to gather outside the parliament to show support… we don't care who we might be pitted against but we will not attack," he said.

"But we are ready to die when they attack us... Our reason is clear and simple, we don't want to see our leader being treated unfairly."

Meanwhile, the national police chief said he had checked with NU leaders and asserted that the squad was not affiliated with the 40-million strong NU.

'Inappropriate actions'

In a recent meeting, the NU clerics refused calls for its members to join a jihad (holy war) or to use violence.

Wahid himself has criticized his supporters' jihad plan, saying such actions were "inappropriate" and "incorrect." However, he also said he understood their anger because of the "slanderous" accusations made against him.

Meanwhile, security forces in the capital Jakarta are preparing for possible violence ahead of April 30, when parliament will hold a plenary session to decide on their response to Wahid's answer to the first censure.

NU leaders have declared plans to organize an istighotsah (mass prayer) on April 29, and thousands of Wahid's supporters are expected to flood into the capital.

The Jakarta Post daily reported that police have started sweeping operations and weapon checks in every entry point to the capital.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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