FPI-S members flock to Jakarta

JAKARTA: Between 450 and 500 anti-U.S. protesters from Yogyakarta and Surakarta, Central Java, arrived at Senen railway station in Central Jakarta on Saturday night.

Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam, spokesman of the city police, told The Jakarta Post that at least 17 people had been arrested for carrying explosives or weapons, including knives and slingshots.

Most of the visitors were reportedly from the Surakarta Youth Islamic Front (FPI-S).

"Many of them wore T-shirts with the word "Hisbullah" on the back and also wore a black headband," an eyewitness said.

About 350 police officers were deployed at the station.

City police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb, his deputy Brig. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara and the outgoing chief of police detectives Sr. Comr. Adang Rochjana were also present. --JP