'Political scenario' cited behind protests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto said on Wednesday that a \"political
\nscenario\" was behind a demonstration on Sept. 7 and stoked
\nreports of riot police bayoneting students.<\/p>\n
Held in front of the House of Representatives, the
\ndemonstration was the first since students occupied the House in
\nMay in their effort to force Soeharto from the presidency. He
\nresigned on May 21.<\/p>\n
Students Muhammad Yanuar Abdi of the School of Social and
\nPolitical Sciences (IISIP) and Herry Djoko of the National
\nInstitute Science and Technology (ISTN), both in South Jakarta,
\nwere hospitalized for wounds inflicted by sharp objects.<\/p>\n
The two students filed complaints at the National Military
\nPolice headquarters on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Wiranto was quoted by Antara news agency as expressing
\ndisbelief and clumping the demonstration as part of a scenario.<\/p>\n
\"Two days before the demonstration, there was already
\ninformation that two people would get injured by ABRI (Armed
\nForces)... I heard the news two days before,\" Wiranto said at a
\nHouse hearing on the draft law on freedom of expression.<\/p>\n
Based on the information from an undisclosed source, Wiranto
\nsaid he instructed police to counter the demonstration using only
\nmasks, shields and batons. Just as he had been forewarned,
\nWiranto said a demonstration involving 2,000 people did occur
\nwith the aim to reoccupy the House.<\/p>\n
\"We saw the gate knocked down, because of their eagerness, and
\nthey stayed put until late night in front of the gate.\"<\/p>\n
He said he instructed police to drive away demonstrators so
\nthat House members could work in peace. \"At about 2 a.m. we began
\nto push them away so they would leave the gate.\"<\/p>\n
He said the confrontation descended into a shoving match
\nbetween police and students. The next day, media reports said two
\nstudents were bayoneted.<\/p>\n
\"This is a fact (the forewarning of the bayoneting)... it
\nreally happened. There was news of this two days earlier,\"
\nWiranto said. At the time, police insisted they were only
\ncarrying batons.<\/p>\n
\"I say (there were) political scenarios involving force and
\npressure... intended to make us feel insecure,\" he added,
\nwithout identifying the orchestrators.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said incidents such as the Sept. 7 protest led to the
\nnecessity to control -- \"but not to contain\" -- freedom of
\nexpression.<\/p>\n
\"Controlling freedom so that freedom of expression should not
\nbe absolute, but there should be limits to it.\"<\/p>\n
The draft submitted on Friday by the government followed the
\nHouse's rejection of the controversial draft of an emergency
\ngovernment regulation in lieu of a law.<\/p>\n
One of the few differences with the earlier draft is that a
\npolice permit is required for demonstrations involving more than
\n100 people, instead of 50.<\/p>\n
The third reading of the draft law was chaired by Aisyah
\nAmini, the Commission I chairwoman. Among attendants were
\nMinister of Justice Muladi, National Police chief Lt. Gen.
\nRoesmanhadi, and ABRI Chief of Staff for general affairs Lt. Gen.
\nFachrul Razi. (anr\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/political-scenario-cited-behind-protests-1447893297",
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