Demonstrations around HI to be banned
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta Administration announced on Monday its plan to propose a bylaw which will ban demonstrations around the newly renovated Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta.
"It (the bylaw) is needed to protect the traffic circle. We don't want the money spent on the fountain to have been in vain," Governor Sutiyoso said, referring to the Rp 14 billion (US$1.5 million) project.
Sutiyoso inaugurated on Sunday the completion of the renovation of the traffic circle, which was built in five degrees of declivity. The project was funded by an outdoor advertising agency, PT Media Indra Buana, in exchange for 10 billboard plots in strategic locations in the city, including around the circle, for two years.
The Hotel Indonesia traffic circle has become a popular spot for street rallies since the downfall of authoritarian President Soeharto in May 1998 due to its strategic location.
The rallies usually caused heavy congestion. The demonstrators often jumped into the fountain pond and some have even been known to climb the 17-meter-high Welcome Statue located at the center of the circle.
The administration once positioned large flower pots around the circle to prevent the rallies but they were soon broken by demonstrators.
Sutiyoso told reporters at the City Hall on Monday that the water fountain in the traffic circle is expected to prevent demonstrators from climbing the Welcome Statue.
Separately, councillor Dani Anwar of the Justice Party rejected Sutiyoso's idea to ban demonstrations around the traffic circle, saying that it was an attempt by Sutiyoso to take away people's rights.
"The police can arrest demonstrators who destroy the circle, but we should not ban people from conducting rallies (around the circle)," said Dani, whose party supporters have often held large, peaceful rallies at the circle.
He said that forbidding people from conducting rallies would be against Law No. 9/1999 which allows people to conduct rallies on condition that they notify the police beforehand.
Student activist Adi Putra Binarta of privately-run Trisakti University questioned the motivation behind Sutiyoso's proposal to ban the rallies at the traffic circle.
"Maybe Sutiyoso wants to create an image that he can manage some semblance of order in the city so that he can be reelected in the next gubernatorial election," said Adi, who joined a rally at the circle three months ago.
Sutiyoso had earlier been sharply criticized for his decision to install a fence around the National Monument Park (Monas), which is also a popular spot for demonstrations. Activists also believe that Sutiyoso wanted to block rallies by fencing the park, but the administration said the fence was aimed at preventing street traders from operating in the area.