Baton issuance protested

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.