Protesting women freed conditionally<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The three women arrested here Monday on charges
\nof organizing a demonstration without a permit were released
\nyesterday but police said they had not closed the case.<\/p>\n
Karlina Leksono, Gadis Arivia, and Wilasih Noviana, were freed
\nalmost 24 hours after being arrested. They said the police had
\ntold them they might be summoned again for more questioning.<\/p>\n
Their lawyers, Apong Herlina and Azas Tigor Nainggolan, said
\ntheir clients were released at midday.<\/p>\n
Separately deputy chief of the Jakarta City Police detectives,
\nLt. Col. Bakat Purwanto, said the legal process would continue.<\/p>\n
Karlina, Indonesia's first woman astronomer, a researcher at
\nthe Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology and
\nthe leader of Monday's protest at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout,
\nsaid the police only asked them to sign their arrest warrants
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
\"We were told that the interrogation was sufficient for the
\nmoment, but they said it was possible they would question us
\nagain later,\" Karlina said.<\/p>\n
The three women, together with more than a dozen housewives,
\nstaged a peaceful protest demanding the government do more to
\nlower prices of basic commodities.<\/p>\n
Their lawyers said the three were charged under Article 510 of
\nthe Criminal Code which bans demonstrations without a police
\npermit. It carries a maximum penalty of two weeks imprisonment or
\na fine of up to Rp 2,250 (25 U.S. cents).<\/p>\n
The arrests were denounced by activists from Women's
\nSolidarity, playwright Ratna Sarumpaet and Emmy Hafild of the
\nIndonesian Forum for Environment.<\/p>\n
They met with Deputy Chairman of the National Commission on
\nHuman Rights Marzuki Darusman, and commission member Clementino
\ndos Reis Amaral.<\/p>\n
\"The arrests and interrogation of three activists of the Voice
\nof Concerned Mothers was a violation of the 1945 Constitution's
\nArticle 28 on freedom of expression and against the 1948 United
\nNations Declaration of Human Rights,\" they said in a statement.<\/p>\n
In a media conference given at the office of the Indonesian
\nLegal Aid Foundation, Karlina expressed her outrage at the
\narrests.<\/p>\n
\"I was able cope with it calmly until they (the interrogators)
\ndug deeper to find out if we had political motives behind the
\npeaceful protest,\" she said. \"At this point I broke down and
\ncried.\"<\/p>\n
Wilasih said she was on a bus when she saw the protest at the
\nHotel Indonesia roundabout and decided to join the rally
\nfeaturing prayers and songs.<\/p>\n
\"I am not a mother, but my neighbors have babies who cry for
\nmilk. When I saw the protest, I just clicked in, and thought to
\nmyself why be afraid to voice my conscience now,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"Babies' cries cannot be stopped with government calls for us
\nto voice our concerns after the (People's Consultative Assembly)
\nGeneral Session, we should voice our concerns now,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Gadis stressed the importance of continuing to voice concern
\nover increasing prices, hoping that the Monday protest would \"not
\nbecome the first and the last\".<\/p>\n
\"There's no need to be afraid to take to the streets as long
\nas you are sure that your cause is right,\" Gadis, a mother of a
\nthree-year-old daughter and a nine-month-old baby boy, said.
\n(aan\/cst)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protesting-women-freed-conditionally-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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