Police remain on the alert<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After experiencing anti-U.S. demonstrations for five
\nconsecutive days, the city was quiet on Saturday, with no
\nprotesters appearing on the streets or in front of the U.S.
\nEmbassy on Jl. Medan Merdeka in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Indonesian Islamic Youth Movement (GPII),
\nAskodar, said the group had no plans to stage any protests on
\nSaturday, but he declined to provide a reason. He also said there
\nwere no definite plans yet for the group's next action.<\/p>\n
\"I don't have any information about the next demonstration as
\nwe will meet to discuss it on Monday,\" he told The Jakarta Post
\nover the phone.<\/p>\n
GPII has been actively involved in demonstrations to protest
\nthe U.S. strikes against Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Although there was no protesters, the road in front of the
\nU.S. Embassy remained closed, while hundreds of police officers
\nwere deployed in the area.<\/p>\n
\"We have to be here all the time to anticipate any unexpected
\nincidents,\" a policeman said.<\/p>\n
Most of the officers rested inside tents around the National
\nMonument, near the embassy, during the day.<\/p>\n
Some spent their time talking while others were busy doing
\ncrossword puzzles.<\/p>\n
And when young women passed by, one or two of the officers
\nwould whistle or shout cewek! (girl!).<\/p>\n
Such scenes were in contrast to what they had experienced over
\nthe previous five days.<\/p>\n
\"We guard this place night and day. We sleep, eat and bathe
\nhere,\" said Second Insp. Manurung, who has a child.<\/p>\n
Asked if he missed his family, he said: \"I am used to leaving
\nthem for a period of days.\"<\/p>\n
Meals are not a problem for the officers. They eat three times
\na day. The menu does not vary much, consisting of rice,
\nvegetables and an egg or tahu (soybean cake) or tempe (tempeh).
\nSometimes, they buy snacks from food stalls, which are plentiful
\nin the area.<\/p>\n
According to Manurung, each of the officers receives pocket
\nmoney of a little less than Rp 10,000 per day, which he described
\nas \"not bad\".<\/p>\n
They bathe at the several mobile public toilets belonging to
\nthe city administration that are parked in the area.<\/p>\n
Manurung's colleague, Yadi, said that they could only bathe
\nonce a day, at the most.<\/p>\n
\"Most of us brought only one extra uniform so there might be a
\nsmell,\" he laughed, adding that it was not such a big deal for
\nthe men.<\/p>\n
Yadi said he did not know when he could leave the site as he
\nhad to remain there until the demonstrations were over. He did
\nnot expect that to be soon as he had heard that there would be
\nanother rally on Monday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-remain-on-the-alert-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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