Baton issuance protested

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The recent issuance of batons to the province's civil servants has drawn protests from a group called the Lampung People's Council.

Idhan Januardana, the council's secretary-general, said the policy of equipping the civil servants with batons to anticipate large protests "demonstrates a true example of arrogance of power using a repressive approach".

Such an approach could make things worse, Idhan said in a statement quoted by Antara on Friday.

The council represents a number of "proreform groups".

He said the policy was in response to riots which occurred in the province on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, which led to windows being shattered at the governor's office. Instead of a repressive reaction, he argued that the government should be looking into why so many people became upset.

The fact that people came to the governor's office and the council still shows people have some trust in these institutions, Idhan said.