Motive behind Timorese sit-in remains mystery<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The motive behind last week's protests staged by
\n113 East Timorese and non-East Timorese at the Russian and Dutch
\nembassies here is unknown.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police Department Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna
\nsaid that his office is still analyzing the motive. He declined
\nto go into detail.<\/p>\n
Iman said that during the 24-hour questioning each protester
\ngave ambiguous reasons why they broke into the embassies.<\/p>\n
\"They told the interrogators that they just wanted to meet the
\nambassadors,\" Iman said.<\/p>\n
\"But we won't say their backgrounds are unknown to us,\" Iman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
When questioned on the possibility of requesting political
\nasylum, the protesters said they had no idea, the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
Before leaving the embassy compound, the protesters made three
\ndemands: referendum on the question of East Timor's integration
\nwith Indonesia; withdrawal of all troops from the territory; and
\nthe release of all East Timorese political prisoners.<\/p>\n
Police suspect an alternative reason for occupying the
\nembassies.<\/p>\n
They also sought government assurances of their safety once
\nthey came out of the embassies.<\/p>\n
The 113 protesters were divided into two groups, all of whom
\nwere released from police custody on Saturday and Sunday evening
\nafter breaking into the embassies on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The first group, consisting of 46 East Timorese and 12 non-
\nEast Timorese, ended their occupation of the Russian Embassy on
\nJl. M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
The 58 protesters were immediately taken to city police
\nheadquarters on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta for
\ninterrogation.<\/p>\n
The other group of 55 protesters, including 17 East Timorese,
\nleft the Dutch Embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta after
\na two-day protest and were rushed to the police station.<\/p>\n
All the protesters were released after being identified and
\ninterrogated for almost 24 hours.<\/p>\n
By law, police have the right to interrogate people for their
\nalleged roles in crimes for no longer than 24 hours, unless found
\nguilty.<\/p>\n
The identities of the protesters were not made available to
\nthe press.<\/p>\n
According to spokesman Iman, it was the embassies who asked
\nthe police to take the protesters away.<\/p>\n
Based on preliminary investigation, police found no strong
\nevidence to charge the protesters with criminal acts, he said.<\/p>\n
No damage has been reported by the embassies, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We also have no details on the party behind all these
\nmatters,\" Iman said.<\/p>\n
Earlier, a police official said that the embassies have the
\nright to charge the protesters for illegally breaking into their
\ncompounds.<\/p>\n
However, Iman said, the police will summon the protesters for
\nquestioning if necessary. (bsr)<\/p>",
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