Bogor locals upset over rallies<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): Residents have criticized the police's decision to
\nallow street protesters to block most of the town's thoroughfares
\nwhile staging rallies, which often leaves many people caught in
\ntraffic jams.<\/p>\n
\"Such a rally only disturbs my trip,\" commented Parman on
\nThursday, a driver of a minivan serving the Merdeka-Warung Jambu
\nroute, while watching his grumbling passengers alight from his
\nvehicle.<\/p>\n
He and his vehicle were trapped in heavy traffic on Jl. Kapten
\nMuslihat, which was occupied by protesters from the Students and
\nPeople Action Alliance (ALARM).<\/p>\n
On the sides of the street, stranded passengers and school
\nchildren were seen walking about one kilometer to pass through
\nthe crowd.<\/p>\n
ALARM members were protesting the deliberation of the state
\nsecurity bill by members of the House of Representatives in
\nJakarta. The protesters also warned the local legislators not to
\nappoint councilors with a military\/police background to lead the
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
They occupied the street and held a free speech forum in front
\nof the local legislator's office on the street, causing heavy
\ntraffic jams on nearby streets, such as Jl. Harupad, Jl.
\nPajajaran, and Jl. Juanda.<\/p>\n
Security officers deployed in the area did nothing to move the
\nprotesters from the street.<\/p>\n
\"We by purpose let the protesters take over the street in
\norder to let the public learn that such street rallies only
\ndisturb public life and business,\" Bogor District Military
\nCommander Lt. Col. Suratmo said.<\/p>\n
Later, he added, \"the public will realize that protests only
\nunbalance local people's harmony and their social activities.\"
\n(24\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bogor-locals-upset-over-rallies-1447893297",
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