Calm returns to capital despite minor demonstration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Calm returned to Jakarta on Saturday, although
\nsome 200 student protesters, grouped under the City Network
\n(Jarkot), made another effort to march to former president
\nSoeharto's residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta, in the
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
The Saturday afternoon protest was held just one day after
\nstudents, in collaboration with youths and residents, vandalized
\nand set ablaze military vehicles on Jl. Diponegoro and Jl.
\nSalemba Raya in Central Jakarta, some two kilometers from the
\nformer strongman's residence.<\/p>\n
Both streets were clean after city sanitation workers swept up
\nthe debris of the violence on Friday night.<\/p>\n
Cars and motorcycles were on the streets in the Salemba area
\nas usual, while nearby stores, including at the Megaria business
\ncomplex, began to open.<\/p>\n
Students were seen gathering at noon at Persada Indonesia
\nUniversity (YAI) and the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) on
\nJl. Diponegoro.<\/p>\n
At 2.45 p.m, four students stood in the middle of Jl.
\nDiponegoro, precisely in front of the gate of UKI's School of
\nSocial and Political Sciences, with two large cardboard boxes.
\nUnfurling a poster which read: "Donations for victims of the
\nmilitary's violence", they requested money from passersby and
\nmotorists.<\/p>\n
About one and a half hours later, the students gathered at the
\nMegaria area and marched to Jl. Cendana.<\/p>\n
The theme of their protest remained the same: they continued
\nto condemn the government's sluggish investigation into former
\npresident Soeharto's alleged corruption during his 32-year reign.
\n"Try Soeharto!", they repeatedly chanted.<\/p>\n
As they arrived at the Jl. Teuku Cik Ditiro intersection, the
\nprotesters did not continue to Jl. Cendana, but immediately
\nturned right to Ismail Marzuki Park (TIM) on Jl. Cikini Raya.<\/p>\n
"We only want to tell people that security officers violently
\nattacked students during our earlier protests. We'll continue to
\nfight until Soeharto is brought to court," said one of the
\nprotesters, Benny.<\/p>\n
At about 6 p.m, after airing their protest in front of TIM,
\nthe students marched back to the Megaria area and dispersed
\npeacefully.<\/p>\n
Separately, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ryamizard
\nRyacudu condemned on Saturday the students' brutality during
\nFriday's protest.<\/p>\n
"We've seen law and human rights violations by the students in
\nthe past two days. Staging rallies is permitted as long as they
\ndon't bring about losses and frighten people," he said after
\nvisiting military police officer Pvt. Laode at the Gatot Soebroto
\nArmy Hospital here.<\/p>\n
Laode suffered serious injuries to his head after he was
\nattacked by students in front of the Foundation of the Indonesian
\nLegal Aid Institute (YLBHI) office on Jl. Diponegoro on Thursday
\nnight.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis
\nsaid on Saturday that his office was capable of handling the
\nchaotic situation on Jl. Salemba Raya on Friday, as his office
\nhad prepared personnel on alert.<\/p>\n
"We have alerted 2,700 personnel of the National Police's
\nMobile Brigade (Brimob) and from the riot police unit here at
\npolice headquarters to anticipate a worse situation," Zainuri
\nsaid, while pointing out that the police's absence at the scene
\non Friday was aimed at preventing the tense police-student
\nrelationship from developing into a larger clash.<\/p>\n
He said the police would prioritize persuasive and preventive
\napproaches and continue with efforts to prevent the unrest from
\nspreading to neighboring areas, such as Jatinegara in East
\nJakarta, and Senen and Cempaka Putih, both in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"We're ready to handle such a chaotic situation and will do
\nour best to restore security in the capital," he said.<\/p>\n
Zainuri added that city police headquarters would continuously
\ncoordinate with the National Police in handling such a situation.<\/p>\n
He called on the students and the public to help maintain
\nsecurity and order while staging protests which involved the
\nmobilization of large crowds.<\/p>\n
"We'll allow them to stage protests as long as they are held
\nin an orderly manner and will not lead to anarchy.<\/p>\n
"They also have to prevent any casualties."<\/p>\n
Zainuri said the police would not be equipped with firearms
\nwhile dealing with protesters.<\/p>\n
"Besides using water cannon, we will equip our personnel only
\nwith tear gas canisters, batons and body shields," he said.<\/p>\n
Zainuri said six military vehicles and a motorcycle were set
\non fire by angry students and crowds during Friday's unrest.<\/p>\n
"However, none of the students or members of the crowd were
\narrested by the police," he said. (06\/asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/calm-returns-to-capital-despite-minor-demonstration-1447893297",
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