Protesters told not to think of toppling govt<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Amid mounting anti-government protests, Coordinating Minister
\nfor Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nwarned protesters on Monday not to dream of toppling the current
\nlegitimate government as it would confront them.<\/p>\n
\"Rallies are a part of democracy, however, if their goal is to
\ntopple the current administration, that will be a problem and
\nwill become our concern,\" Susilo said after the first Cabinet
\nmeeting for the year.<\/p>\n
Susilo warned further that any movement to obstruct the
\ngovernment before the end of its term in October 2004 would only
\nhurt the democratization process in the country.<\/p>\n
As he spoke to reporters, around one hundred protesters staged
\na rally in front of Merdeka Palace to protest the increases in
\nutility charges. Thousands of others staged different protests
\nacross the country.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the police would
\nrespect the rallies but urged protesters to abide by regulations.<\/p>\n
\"Please abide by regulations and report planned rallies to the
\npolice. We will not take any repressive actions as long as the
\nrally goes peacefully,\" the police chief said.<\/p>\n
However, the police chief's statement was in stark contrast
\nwith the arrest of 18 people on Monday who took part in protests
\nagainst the price hikes in the capital.<\/p>\n
Da'i, however, defended the arrests, saying that the arrests
\nwere necessary to uphold the law and maintain order.<\/p>\n
\"We will not arrest anybody if they observe the regulations
\nand the protest does not turn violent,\" the four-star general
\nremarked.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protesters-told-not-to-think-of-toppling-govt-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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