Foreigners deported for rallying
Foreigners deported for rallying
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Four foreigners were deported to their home countries on Thursday
for committing what immigration officials called "a dangerous
activity" by participating in a rally to protest the Indonesian
government's decision to launch a military operation in Aceh.
They were: Australians Nicholas James Everest, 32, and Kylie
Irene Moon, 25, South African Lydia Leone Cairn-Cross, 27, and
South Korean Choi Yung Chan, 32.
"The Australians and the South Korean were deported today
through Singapore, while the South African was sent home through
Dubai," said Ade E. Dachlan, the spokesman for the Directorate
General of Immigration.
Police arrested the foreigners on Wednesday at about 6 p.m.
after they took part in a rally in front of the presidential
palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara, Central Jakarta.
"They took part in a dangerous activity or one that could
endanger public safety and order," Ade quoted the Director
General of Immigration Mohammad Indra as saying.
Officials said they had violated their visas by taking part in
political activities here. The Australians and South Korean came
as tourists and had obtained a short visit visa that was
effective for 60 days, while the South African was on a visa to
visit social organizations here, the official said.
After they were held overnight at police headquarters, the
police sent them before noon on Thursday to the immigration
office. They were quarantined before they were deported later in
the day.
"Foreigners must abide by the law in this country. What was
their business that they had to take part in the rally to protest
the Indonesian government's policy on Aceh?" said city police
spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo.
In other developments, police arrested eight student
protesters involved in Wednesday's clash with police at the House
of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR)
compound in South Jakarta.
"We are questioning them as suspects," said Prasetyo.
He said the students could be charged under Article 170 in the
Criminal Code for perpetrating a violent action, and Article 187
for causing an explosion. If convicted, the students could spend
a maximum of seven years and 12 years respectively in prison.
They had joined thousands of student representatives from a
number of universities across the country who staged a rally to
demand incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice
President Hamzah Has to resign for incompetence.
The rally was held to coincide with the fifth anniversary of
reformation in 1998, which led to the downfall of former
president Soeharto.
Prasetyo said the students were being detained for refusing to
disperse and committing a violent action, including damaging
public facilities.
The protesters burned banners and flags of political parties
on the toll road near the DPR compound. They also burned the
fiberglass fence on the road and closed down the toll road gate.
In a clash with students, a police officer suffered minor
injuries from a Molotov cocktail thrown by one protester.
Police seized two loudspeakers, two Molotov cocktails, 16
bamboo sticks, five flags, 12 stones, a Kijang van and a public
minibus from the protesters.
Police arrested Bimbi Tuanakotta from Bung Karno University
for allegedly throwing a molotov cocktail and burning the United
Development Party (PPP) flags.
Police also arrested Alib Bara from the University of
Indonesia (UI), Naviar Saleh from the Islamic University of
Lampung, Muhamad Dawan from the Sunan Gunung Jati Islamic
University of Bandung, Andi Supriadi from the University of Surya
Kencana, Cianjur, West Java, Asbid Mujahid from the University of
Jakarta, Agus Mulani from UI and Nandang Wira Kusuma from
Tirtayasa University of Cilegon, Banten.