Protesters clash with police, 150 apprehended<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least 150 people, including 14 women and two
\nchildren, were apprehended during a demonstration yesterday over
\nsoaring prices, and taken to Jakarta Police Headquarters.<\/p>\n
They were among 500 protesters who marched to the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office in the Blok M business district before heading
\nto the Ministry of Manpower on Jl. Gatot Subroto, both in South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The protesters, who called themselves the Red and White
\nNationalist Front, arrived at noon in minibuses and other forms
\nof public transportation.<\/p>\n
They demanded the Attorney General's Office take proactive
\nmeasures to follow up on what the group called mismanagement and
\nmisconduct among government officials.<\/p>\n
\"The office should not hesitate to conduct investigations into
\nthe 30 percent leakage in the state budget, as reported by senior
\neconomist Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo, and the mounting debts of
\nIndonesian businesspeople,\" they said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Four group representatives met with the office's chief of
\nintelligence, Sudibyo Saleh, and lodged their petition.<\/p>\n
\"I cannot tell you the office's response to your petition
\nbecause I haven't met the Attorney General regarding its
\ncontents,\" Sudibyo said, \"But, I'll make sure that your petition
\nreaches the Attorney General.\"<\/p>\n
Having completed their mission at the office, the group then
\nmarched to the Ministry of Manpower office.<\/p>\n
Protesters called on the government to make serious efforts to
\nprevent the rising level of unemployment and reestablish the
\nprices of the nine basic food commodities to precrisis levels.<\/p>\n
A few representatives were ushered into the ministry's office
\nbut hundreds of police and military troops foiled the attempts of
\nother protesters to reach the office, closing the complex's front
\ngate.<\/p>\n
Some protesters also clashed with police prior to reaching the
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Police apprehended some people on Jl. Trunojoyo and Jl.
\nMampang Prapatan, both in South Jakarta, while others were picked
\nup in front of the ministry office.<\/p>\n
They were later taken to Jakarta Police headquarters for
\nquestioning.<\/p>\n
Deputy city police chief Brig. Gen. Gunawan said the alleged
\ndemonstrators were apprehended because they violated a regulation
\non mass gatherings.<\/p>\n
\"They participated in a mass gathering, in this case parading
\nalong the street, without any permit from the authorities,\" he
\nsaid during a media briefing.<\/p>\n
He said articles 510 and 511 of the Criminal Code stated that
\nany mass gathering, including parties and parades on the street,
\ncould be held only if it had been approved by police or other
\nrelevant authorities.<\/p>\n
Violations carry a maximum fine of between Rp 25 and Rp 250 or
\ntwo weeks imprisonment.<\/p>\n
Gunawan reiterated that those who had been apprehended were
\nnot considered criminals.<\/p>\n
\"They only violated the regulations.\"<\/p>\n
The people rounded up during yesterday's protest were not
\ntaken to police headquarters in order to be detained, he said.<\/p>\n
\"First, we will register their particulars and questioned them
\nabout their alleged involvement in the parade. If they are not
\nguilty, then why should we detain them here.\"<\/p>\n
Gunawan declined to say how long the identification process
\nand questioning would take.<\/p>\n
\"Just give us time. We'll do the processing as quickly as
\npossible, but I can't tell you how long it will take.\"<\/p>\n
He said police seized six T-shirts with the words \"Megawati
\nfor president\".<\/p>\n
Some of the 150 people apprehended by police, denied their
\ninvolvement in the rally.<\/p>\n
Fatiya, 25, told reporters that she had stepped off a bus and
\nwas standing at a shelter near the Mampang four-way intersection
\nwhen officers grabbed her and told her to get into the police
\ntruck.<\/p>\n
Sunariah, a housewife in Central Jakarta, her friend Dedeh and
\ntwo of Dedeh's children were standing at a bus shelter in front
\nof the Ministry of Manpower's office when they were apprehended.<\/p>\n
The protesters, who were believed to be supporters of the
\nousted leader of Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, held a demonstration in front of the central bank
\nbuilding on Jl. MH. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Monday.
\n(jun\/cst\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protesters-clash-with-police-150-apprehended-1447893297",
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