Bogor locals upset over rallies

BOGOR (JP): Residents have criticized the police's decision to allow street protesters to block most of the town's thoroughfares while staging rallies, which often leaves many people caught in traffic jams.

"Such a rally only disturbs my trip," commented Parman on Thursday, a driver of a minivan serving the Merdeka-Warung Jambu route, while watching his grumbling passengers alight from his vehicle.

He and his vehicle were trapped in heavy traffic on Jl. Kapten Muslihat, which was occupied by protesters from the Students and People Action Alliance (ALARM).

On the sides of the street, stranded passengers and school children were seen walking about one kilometer to pass through the crowd.

ALARM members were protesting the deliberation of the state security bill by members of the House of Representatives in Jakarta. The protesters also warned the local legislators not to appoint councilors with a military/police background to lead the council.

They occupied the street and held a free speech forum in front of the local legislator's office on the street, causing heavy traffic jams on nearby streets, such as Jl. Harupad, Jl. Pajajaran, and Jl. Juanda.

Security officers deployed in the area did nothing to move the protesters from the street.

"We by purpose let the protesters take over the street in order to let the public learn that such street rallies only disturb public life and business," Bogor District Military Commander Lt. Col. Suratmo said.

Later, he added, "the public will realize that protests only unbalance local people's harmony and their social activities." (24/bsr)