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)