Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) have released 21\npeople who were detained by officers for carrying more than a dozen\nfirecrackers, flares and six bottles prepared as materials for Molotov\ncocktails near the site of a public demonstration.<\/p>\n
Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner\nBudi Hermanto, explained that the release was carried out after the\nPolda Metro Jaya Law Enforcement Task Force provided pre-emptive\neducation to the dozens of young men.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese 21 people have been released. There is a pre-emptive education\napproach carried out by the Polda Metro Jaya Law Enforcement Task Force,\nbecause we are not only about repressive law enforcement. Repressive law\nenforcement is ultimum remedium, or the last resort,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
From the results of intensive examination, the 21 people were\nconfirmed not to be part of the student group or official participants\nof the demonstration. They came to the location after hearing about the\ndemonstration and intended to join in if chaos occurred.<\/p>\n
In addition to the 21 people, the police have also released two other\npeople who were detained for carrying sharp weapons, namely a knife and\na machete.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth now have the status of witnesses after it was confirmed that\nthe sharp weapons were not intended to cause trouble,\u201d said Budi.<\/p>\n
One person was found to be carrying a knife in his bag after\nattending a community service programme (Kuliah Kerja Nyata\/KKN), while\nthe other was an ambulance driver who equipped himself with a machete\nfrom his route company.<\/p>\n
Polda Metro Jaya emphasised that expressing aspirations in public is\nprotected by law. The presence of TNI and Polri personnel on the ground\nis purely to secure and serve the community, including helping to\nevacuate protesters who fell ill or fainted to the nearest hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn accordance with the leadership\u2019s direction, all protest security\nmust prioritise a humane attitude, not be provoked, and it is strictly\nforbidden to carry firearms,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-release-21-people-detained-during-protest-1787137054", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }