Two NGO gatherings busted<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police broke up gatherings organized by the
\nIndonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) and the Pijar foundation
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Dozens of police officers stormed the union's headquarters on
\nJl. Kayu Ramin and the foundation's office on Jl. Penggalang,
\nboth in East Jakarta, asking participants at the meetings to
\nleave.<\/p>\n
"It's clear that you're not allowed to attend an illegal
\nmeeting," Sgt. Johni Dimagah shouted at the workers in front of
\ntheir headquarters.<\/p>\n
SBSI chairman Muchtar Pakpahan did not attend the aborted
\nceremony, "We heard that the authorities want to harass him in
\nfront of his supporters. So we told Muchtar not to come," said
\nTohap Simanungkalit, a labor activist.<\/p>\n
In a bid to avoid commotion, labor leaders urged the around
\ntwo hundreds guests to take their refreshments and go home.<\/p>\n
An hour earlier a dozen officers raided the office of Pijar,
\nlocated about one kilometer southwest of the union's headquarters
\nand asked George Junus Aditjondro to stop delivering his speech.<\/p>\n
Aditjondro is a noted scholar at the Salatiga-based Satya
\nWacana Christian University in Central Java. He has recently
\nclaimed in research that the number of people killed in the 1991
\nDili incident was 271 and not 50 as stated by the government.<\/p>\n
According to the head of Matraman police sub-precinct, whose
\nterritory includes both offices, the organizers lacked permission
\nto conduct such big gatherings.<\/p>\n
"Both of them had no permission to organize a meeting with
\nmore than five participants," Maj. Rusmana Supiyana told newsmen
\nat his office.<\/p>\n
Pijar held the meeting yesterday to celebrate the release of
\nan East Timorese student activist, Virgilio da Silva Guterres,
\nwho was arrested a week after the bloody incident in Dili and
\njailed for two and a half years in Cipinang prison for insulting
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
Guterres was cynical about the dismissal. "This is the
\ngrandeur of the nation," he said sneeringly while watching the
\nlocal activists argue with the officers.<\/p>\n
Earlier he thanked participants of the meeting for their
\ncoming and their continual visits while he was jailed in
\nCipinang.<\/p>\n
"Two or three years ago, I considered all Indonesians my
\nenemies. However, the prison taught me to respect nice people
\nlike you," Guterres said. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-ngo-gatherings-busted-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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