House passes bill amid rallies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives passed on Thursday
\nthe state security bill amid widespread protests and mass street
\ndemonstrations in numerous cities across the country.<\/p>\n
The four House factions said in a plenary session with
\nMinister of Defense and Security\/Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto that they agreed to finally approve the
\nbill since it was far more humane and democratic than the harsher
\nand repressive 1959 Law on State Emergencies.<\/p>\n
Jakarta recorded the biggest rally against the bill on
\nThursday, with thousands of angry protesters aggressively
\nattacking security troops, who were unrelenting in barring the
\nprotesters' way to the House.<\/p>\n
More than 50 students and 10 security personnel were slightly
\ninjured. A student protester from Atma Jaya University was shot
\nin the mouth with a rubber bullet. Photographer Fredericus of
\nKapital economic tabloid got nine stitches in the head after
\nbeing hit by a stone while covering the rally in front of the
\nJakarta Design Center building in Slipi, West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Unconfirmed reports disclosed a number of fatalities, but no
\nhospitals could confirm the information.<\/p>\n
Clashes during the rally, probably the most violent street
\ndemonstration ever held by students in the capital, started at 3
\np.m. and continued well into the night.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post reporters witnessed students hurling more
\nthan 100 Molotov cocktails and scores of flaming sticks at the
\njoint troops of Kamra civilian militia, police, military and
\nmarines.<\/p>\n
Medium strips and flower pots were damaged, and paving stones
\nwere removed to hurl at troops.<\/p>\n
Later in the evening, local residents joined the protest and
\nattack on troops.<\/p>\n
In response, the depressed-looking troops started firing gas
\ncanisters and rubber bullets, and angrily beat protesters they
\napprehended.<\/p>\n
After being pushed away by the troops, some of the protesters
\nat Atma Jaya University near the Semanggi cloverleaf threw
\nMolotov cocktails into a nearby gas station.<\/p>\n
A tollbooth near the city police headquarters was set alight
\nby students. Four security personnel vehicles were also burned.<\/p>\n
Office block gates were also dismantled along Jl. Gatot
\nSubroto and used as weapons against security personnel.<\/p>\n
Thousands of vehicles were trapped for hours in heavy traffic
\ncongestion caused by the mass protest.<\/p>\n
Similar but relatively peaceful protests also occurred in
\nother big cities in Java and North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
No idea<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in the House in Jakarta, the United Development
\nParty (PPP) faction voiced regret over the protests, saying that
\ndemonstrators actually had no idea about the significant changes
\nthe House had made to the bill.<\/p>\n
\"A bigger part of the draft law's substance has been changed
\nand major adjustments have been made in line with democratic
\nissues and human rights,\" legislator Muslich of PPP told the
\nsession.<\/p>\n
Under the newly approved bill, the President is obliged to
\nfirst obtain approval from, or consult with, the House before
\ndeclaring a state of emergency in the country.<\/p>\n
A governor is also obliged to get approval from the provincial
\nlegislative council before declaring an extraordinary state or a
\nstate of emergency in a province.<\/p>\n
In the case of extraordinary and emergency states, civilian
\nlaw is maintained and all policies and additional measures taken
\nby the government must respect democracy and human rights.<\/p>\n
The bill also applies a maximum five-year jail sentence on
\ngovernment officials who abuse the bill and a minimum three-month
\njail sentence for individuals refusing to abide by it.<\/p>\n
Wiranto, however, said he appreciated the intention of the
\ndemonstrations, saying they were signs of people caring about the
\nnation.<\/p>\n
\"However, we regret that all those opposing the bill have yet
\nto be aware of all significant changes made. The bill has
\naccommodated their aspirations and is not designed for the
\nmilitary's interests nor in anticipation of the upcoming General
\nSession of the People's Consultative Assembly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The clashes during Thursday's rally in Jakarta was marked by
\nan incident outside Moestopo University in South Jakarta earlier
\nin the day.<\/p>\n
At least 25 students were injured when hundreds of their
\ncounterparts attempted to force their way into the House
\ncompound, were halted by riot police officers who then fired
\nrubber bullets and hit the protesters with their batons. Three
\npolice officers and a Kamra member were wounded in the head.<\/p>\n
Among the onlookers of the rally near the House was Faisal
\nBasri, general-secretary of the National Mandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
According to him, he was there merely to demonstrate strong
\nmoral support for the students.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, thousands of students also rallied to oppose
\nthe approval of the bill. They marched toward the local council
\nbuilding on the main avenue of Jl. Malioboro.<\/p>\n
Another group of protesters staged a protest at the Tugu
\nintersection.<\/p>\n
The protesters received strong support from four factions of
\nthe council, namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI Perjuangan), the National Awakening Party (PKB), Golkar
\nParty and PAN.<\/p>\n
\"The new legislators should and will revoke the law (later),\"
\nsaid a PKB representative.<\/p>\n
All four factions expressed a hope that the newly appointed
\nlegislators would later meet people's demands.<\/p>\n
About 1,000 students and youths of various organizations in
\nSurabaya continued to stage a mass protest at the local
\nlegislative office even after the bill had been passed.<\/p>\n
\"(Jakarta) Legislators have betrayed the people,\" shouted the
\nprotesters. \"We will keep on fighting.\"<\/p>\n
In Semarang, about 250 students went to the local military
\ndistrict office on Jl. Pemuda. The protesters climbed the wall
\nand shouted objections against the bill.<\/p>\n
\"We reject the bill and will continue the fight,\" shouted one
\nof them.<\/p>\n
In Medan, hundreds of students thronged to the North Sumatra
\nCouncil building.<\/p>\n
\"The security bill is clearly just to legitimize repressive
\naction against people by the military,\" Simson, one activist,
\nsaid. (03\/04\/06\/23\/39\/44\/har\/nur\/edt\/rms\/jun\/asa\/ylt)<\/p>",
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