Demonstrations won't be tolerated at AAS

JAKARTA: The City Police said that protest demonstrations by students or community groups may be as harmful as terror bombings to the security during the Asian-African Summit (AAS), which will be held in Jakarta and Bandung next week.

"In my opinion, the current issues such as the Indonesian- Malaysian border dispute in the (Sulawesi Sea) and the fuel hikes have upset the public, and might trigger more protests during the Summit," police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said on Thursday.

He emphasized that the police would crack down very harshly against those involved in violent rallies, or anyone found to be attempting to besmirch the president or vice president's names or the symbols of any country -- including national flags.

The police also deployed most of the personnel to guard venues considered as possible terrorist targets such as shopping malls and other public places.

Around 60 heads of state from Asian and African nations will participate in the two-day summit, which will begin on April 22. -- JP