Critic fire off on shoot-on-sight order against protesters
Critic fire off on shoot-on-sight order against protesters
JAKARTA (JP): University students, human rights activists and
lawyers strongly oppose the police's shoot-on-sight order, saying
that it would impede democracy by preventing citizens from
exercising their right to demonstrate and voice their
aspirations.
Those contacted by The Jakarta Post on Thursday insisted that
the severity of the order would only tarnish the image of the
Indonesian police, both here and overseas.
Indra Parindrianto, from the Communication Forum of Jakarta
Student Senate, and Adian, from the City Forum, insisted that if
the police did shoot on sight, security in the capital and across
the nation would be shattered.
"We stage street rallies because the government's institutions
no longer accommodate our aspirations," Indra said.
"But if the police officers shoot demonstrators who get out of
control, as they say they will, they will be accused by foreign
countries of violating human rights. In turn, these countries
will halt foreign aid," he said.
He warned that the whole country would feel threatened if the
police used violence on people who took their aspirations to the
streets.
"Instead, the police should protect the people and honor their
aspirations," said Indra.
Adian stated that the shoot-on-sight order would not stop
people from taking to the streets to stage rallies.
"This order cannot bring peace to the capital," he said.
Both Indra and Adian said that students would make careful
preparations before staging a rally in order to prevent chaos.
However, they said that if security officers attacked, the
students would resist and fight back for their own self-
protection.
"Usually, there are provocateurs, who we believe are
plainclothes intelligence officers, who start the chaos which can
then turn into anarchy," they said.
A day earlier, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar
Sianipar announced that police nation-wide had been ordered to
shoot on sight any demonstrators, students or not, who turned
anarchic.
When asked to comment on the order, Daniel Panjaitan, the
operational head of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, said the
order was aimed at frightening demonstrators, particularly
students.
"But I don't believe that it will decrease the number of
street rallies in the capital," Daniel said.
He said that the police should be allowed to arrest or even
shoot provocateurs, but not demonstrators.
Indra Bramono of Yayasan Kasih Kemanusiaan, a humanitarian aid
foundation, said, "It's indeed a good decision, but it should be
the very, very last option for police officers because shooting
anyone, including a suspect, is already a violation of the
universal human rights declaration."
"If the police have 1,001 ways to stop a dangerous
demonstrator, shooting them should be option number 1,001."
"Moreover, I don't think that student demonstrators in Jakarta
are as dangerous as their colleagues in certain countries. As far
as I can see, students protesting in Jakarta always stage their
rallies peacefully," he said.
Rita Kolibonso, a lawyer, strongly protested the police order.
"There has been violence, arson, vandalism and killing during
a series of recent riots. People are showing that they are no
longer afraid of the law."
"Now, if the police want to fight the people by shooting them
on sight, what is law then? Where is it?" she asked.
Anas Urbaningrum, an executive with the Association Islamic
Students, urged police to first define what they meant by an
anarchic demonstrator.
"The government and security forces have to be very careful in
implementing such a decision... it could easily be manipulated
by certain parties who want to quiet critical groups by gunning
them down," he said.
"Please give Jakartans the chance to learn how to protest...
do not shoot them down during this early stage of democracy,"
Anas said. (ivy/jun/ylt/bsr)