House back police tough stance

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