The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) said that all 19 people\ndetained by police in connection with the 28 October demonstration in\nJakarta have now been released.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur friends who were arrested yesterday, 28 October, at the\ndemonstration around Bundaran HI \u2014 18 people and one child \u2014 have all\nbeen released,\u201d TAUD representative Daniel Winarta said at the Jakarta\nMetropolitan Police headquarters on Thursday (29 October).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe arrests took place yesterday around midday and in the afternoon,\nand some were also made at night. By around two o\u2019clock today, everyone\nhad been released,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Daniel said the police did not need to arrest the group, as they had\ncommitted no criminal offences.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese young people should not have been arrested in the first place.\nOur friends should not have been arrested because these were arbitrary\narrests, made without an adequate legal basis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
At the same event, Andi Rahardia of the Political Prisoners\u2019 Union\n(Setapol) said this was not the first time demonstrators had been\narrested without clear grounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police arrest and detain people without strong and clear\ngrounds, adding to a long record of procedural errors that do not comply\nwith criminal procedure law,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope there will be improvements following the replacement of the\nsenior leadership at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Andi also urged law enforcement officials to pay closer attention to\ncriminal procedure law so that incidents of this kind do not recur.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope demonstrations can take place without citizens being afraid\nto exercise their right to express their views, because that right is\nprotected by our laws. That is all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Metropolitan Police Public Relations Head Senior Commissioner\nBudi Hermanto confirmed the release of the 19 demonstrators detained on\n28 October.<\/p>\n
They were released after investigators had completed questioning and\nassessed each person\u2019s involvement and role.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore being released, they were also given preventive education and\nadvised not to take actions that could disrupt public order or endanger\npublic safety,\u201d Budi said.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators were then handed over to their families or legal\nrepresentatives from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH). The handover was\ndocumented in an official report and accompanied by a written\nundertaking not to break the law.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Jakarta Metropolitan Police prioritise prevention and education\nas part of a humane policing service. Repressive law-enforcement\nmeasures are used only as a last resort, while taking into account the\nfacts, evidence and applicable law,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police had earlier detained 19 people during\nWednesday\u2019s demonstration in the capital. Officers also seized items\nincluding bladed weapons and firecrackers.<\/p>\n
\u201cNineteen people were detained; they were carrying firecrackers, some\nhad bladed weapons, and items intended for vandalism were also found,\u201d\nCommissioner Budi told reporters on Thursday (29 October).<\/p>\n
Jakarta Metropolitan Police Criminal Investigation Directorate chief\nSenior Commissioner Imron Ermawan said one of the 19 detainees was a\nminor. The case involving the child was handled by the force\u2019s Women and\nChildren Protection and Protection of Women and Children directorate\n(PPA\/PPO).<\/p>\n
Imron also said police suspected that paint seized at the scene was\nintended for vandalism.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Jakarta Metropolitan Police seized paint or colouring materials\nthat were suspected of being intended for vandalism yesterday.\nFortunately, the person concerned was apprehended, along with the\nevidence: 12 cans of paint,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/19-demonstrators-detained-on-28-october-in-jakarta-released-1793271157", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }