Critic fire off on shoot-on-sight order against protesters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): University students, human rights activists and
\nlawyers strongly oppose the police's shoot-on-sight order, saying
\nthat it would impede democracy by preventing citizens from
\nexercising their right to demonstrate and voice their
\naspirations.<\/p>\n
Those contacted by The Jakarta Post on Thursday insisted that
\nthe severity of the order would only tarnish the image of the
\nIndonesian police, both here and overseas.<\/p>\n
Indra Parindrianto, from the Communication Forum of Jakarta
\nStudent Senate, and Adian, from the City Forum, insisted that if
\nthe police did shoot on sight, security in the capital and across
\nthe nation would be shattered.<\/p>\n
\"We stage street rallies because the government's institutions
\nno longer accommodate our aspirations,\" Indra said.<\/p>\n
\"But if the police officers shoot demonstrators who get out of
\ncontrol, as they say they will, they will be accused by foreign
\ncountries of violating human rights. In turn, these countries
\nwill halt foreign aid,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He warned that the whole country would feel threatened if the
\npolice used violence on people who took their aspirations to the
\nstreets.<\/p>\n
\"Instead, the police should protect the people and honor their
\naspirations,\" said Indra.<\/p>\n
Adian stated that the shoot-on-sight order would not stop
\npeople from taking to the streets to stage rallies.<\/p>\n
\"This order cannot bring peace to the capital,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Both Indra and Adian said that students would make careful
\npreparations before staging a rally in order to prevent chaos.<\/p>\n
However, they said that if security officers attacked, the
\nstudents would resist and fight back for their own self-
\nprotection.<\/p>\n
\"Usually, there are provocateurs, who we believe are
\nplainclothes intelligence officers, who start the chaos which can
\nthen turn into anarchy,\" they said.<\/p>\n
A day earlier, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar
\nSianipar announced that police nation-wide had been ordered to
\nshoot on sight any demonstrators, students or not, who turned
\nanarchic.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment on the order, Daniel Panjaitan, the
\noperational head of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, said the
\norder was aimed at frightening demonstrators, particularly
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
\"But I don't believe that it will decrease the number of
\nstreet rallies in the capital,\" Daniel said.<\/p>\n
He said that the police should be allowed to arrest or even
\nshoot provocateurs, but not demonstrators.<\/p>\n
Indra Bramono of Yayasan Kasih Kemanusiaan, a humanitarian aid
\nfoundation, said, \"It's indeed a good decision, but it should be
\nthe very, very last option for police officers because shooting
\nanyone, including a suspect, is already a violation of the
\nuniversal human rights declaration.\"<\/p>\n
\"If the police have 1,001 ways to stop a dangerous
\ndemonstrator, shooting them should be option number 1,001.\"<\/p>\n
\"Moreover, I don't think that student demonstrators in Jakarta
\nare as dangerous as their colleagues in certain countries. As far
\nas I can see, students protesting in Jakarta always stage their
\nrallies peacefully,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rita Kolibonso, a lawyer, strongly protested the police order.<\/p>\n
\"There has been violence, arson, vandalism and killing during
\na series of recent riots. People are showing that they are no
\nlonger afraid of the law.\"<\/p>\n
\"Now, if the police want to fight the people by shooting them
\non sight, what is law then? Where is it?\" she asked.<\/p>\n
Anas Urbaningrum, an executive with the Association Islamic
\nStudents, urged police to first define what they meant by an
\nanarchic demonstrator.<\/p>\n
\"The government and security forces have to be very careful in
\nimplementing such a decision... it could easily be manipulated
\nby certain parties who want to quiet critical groups by gunning
\nthem down,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Please give Jakartans the chance to learn how to protest...
\ndo not shoot them down during this early stage of democracy,\"
\nAnas said. (ivy\/jun\/ylt\/bsr)<\/p>",
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