Bogor locals upset over rallies

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)