National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto has urged all members\nof the public planning to hold demonstrations not to engage in acts of\nviolence.<\/p>\n
He asked protesters to demonstrate safely and peacefully so as not to\ndisrupt public security and order.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge people not to commit acts of violence,\u201d he told reporters at\nNational Police Headquarters on Wednesday (28 October).<\/p>\n
He said police across the country had prepared security arrangements\nand would serve members of the public wishing to express their views in\npublic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue security efforts throughout Indonesia. We will\nprioritise a humane approach and continue preventive and pre-emptive\nmeasures,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, of course, we will continue to respect all expressions of\nopinion in public,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The Committee to Save the People\u2019s Sovereignty (SADAR) is holding a\ndemonstration at the HI Roundabout in Central Jakarta on Wednesday (28\nOctober), coinciding with Youth Pledge Day.<\/p>\n
The SADAR Committee is a student alliance comprising student\nexecutive bodies and organisations from several universities, including\nthe University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI), the\nBandung Institute of Technology Student Family (KM ITB), the Gadjah Mada\nUniversity Student Senate (SEMA UGM), Diponegoro University Student\nExecutive Board (BEM Undip), Brawijaya University Student Executive\nBoard (EM UB), Semarang State University Student Executive Board (BEM KM\nUnnes), Airlangga University Student Executive Board (BEM Unair), and\nthe Padjadjaran University-wide Student Executive Board Alliance.<\/p>\n
SADAR representative Namoradiarta Siahaan said the demonstration was\na continuation of a rally held on 20 October.<\/p>\n
In a statement from the committee, Namora said Wednesday\u2019s action\nwould carry the same message: demanding government accountability and\naffirming that the people are not merely objects of state\nadministration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people\u2019s voices must determine the direction of development,\noversee the use of the budget, defend their living spaces and enable\ncriticism to be voiced without fear,\u201d Namora said.<\/p>\n
The committee has put forward five main demands. First, it is urging\nthe government to declare forest fires a national disaster, prosecute\nthe corporations responsible and complete the integration of land\ngovernance.<\/p>\n
Second, it wants the state budget to be directed as fully as possible\ntowards public needs, and wasteful political spending disguised as\npopulist programmes\u2014such as the Free Nutritious Meals programme (MBG)\nand the Food Self-Sufficiency Village Cooperatives (KDMP)\u2014to be\nstopped.<\/p>\n
Third, the protesters are calling for lower education costs and more\nequal access to basic services.<\/p>\n
The fourth and fifth demands include ending the use of the law as an\ninstrument of power, eradicating corruption, collusion and nepotism,\nrestoring freedom of expression, resolving human rights abuse cases and\nending the militarisation of civilian spaces.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-chief-urges-protesters-to-avoid-anarchy-promises-humane-security-1793163224", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }