House back police tough stance

JAKARTA: Legislators from the House's defense and security commission have backed the tough stance adopted by police against militant student activists during the recent antigovernment protests.

The legislators gave their support to the police during a hearing with National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar on Tuesday.

Ibrahim Ambong, commission chairman, said that the legislators could understand the action taken by the police in dealing with the protesters as their actions could incite people to take to the streets and thus jeopardize public order and security.

Dozens of students were arrested last week after staging street rallies near the residence of President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Jl. Teuku Umar in Central Jakarta. They were released a few hours later.

During the hearing, however, a number of legislators expressed concern over the arrests.

Police chief Da'i Bachtiar called on protesters not to be anarchic and to report to the police three days before staging a rally. --JP