House passes bill amid rallies
House passes bill amid rallies
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives passed on Thursday the state security bill amid widespread protests and mass street demonstrations in numerous cities across the country.
The four House factions said in a plenary session with Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto that they agreed to finally approve the bill since it was far more humane and democratic than the harsher and repressive 1959 Law on State Emergencies.
Jakarta recorded the biggest rally against the bill on Thursday, with thousands of angry protesters aggressively attacking security troops, who were unrelenting in barring the protesters' way to the House.
More than 50 students and 10 security personnel were slightly injured. A student protester from Atma Jaya University was shot in the mouth with a rubber bullet. Photographer Fredericus of Kapital economic tabloid got nine stitches in the head after being hit by a stone while covering the rally in front of the Jakarta Design Center building in Slipi, West Jakarta.
Unconfirmed reports disclosed a number of fatalities, but no hospitals could confirm the information.
Clashes during the rally, probably the most violent street demonstration ever held by students in the capital, started at 3 p.m. and continued well into the night.
The Jakarta Post reporters witnessed students hurling more than 100 Molotov cocktails and scores of flaming sticks at the joint troops of Kamra civilian militia, police, military and marines.
Medium strips and flower pots were damaged, and paving stones were removed to hurl at troops.
Later in the evening, local residents joined the protest and attack on troops.
In response, the depressed-looking troops started firing gas canisters and rubber bullets, and angrily beat protesters they apprehended.
After being pushed away by the troops, some of the protesters at Atma Jaya University near the Semanggi cloverleaf threw Molotov cocktails into a nearby gas station.
A tollbooth near the city police headquarters was set alight by students. Four security personnel vehicles were also burned.
Office block gates were also dismantled along Jl. Gatot Subroto and used as weapons against security personnel.
Thousands of vehicles were trapped for hours in heavy traffic congestion caused by the mass protest.
Similar but relatively peaceful protests also occurred in other big cities in Java and North Sumatra.
No idea
Meanwhile in the House in Jakarta, the United Development Party (PPP) faction voiced regret over the protests, saying that demonstrators actually had no idea about the significant changes the House had made to the bill.
"A bigger part of the draft law's substance has been changed and major adjustments have been made in line with democratic issues and human rights," legislator Muslich of PPP told the session.
Under the newly approved bill, the President is obliged to first obtain approval from, or consult with, the House before declaring a state of emergency in the country.
A governor is also obliged to get approval from the provincial legislative council before declaring an extraordinary state or a state of emergency in a province.
In the case of extraordinary and emergency states, civilian law is maintained and all policies and additional measures taken by the government must respect democracy and human rights.
The bill also applies a maximum five-year jail sentence on government officials who abuse the bill and a minimum three-month jail sentence for individuals refusing to abide by it.
Wiranto, however, said he appreciated the intention of the demonstrations, saying they were signs of people caring about the nation.
"However, we regret that all those opposing the bill have yet to be aware of all significant changes made. The bill has accommodated their aspirations and is not designed for the military's interests nor in anticipation of the upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly," he said.
The clashes during Thursday's rally in Jakarta was marked by an incident outside Moestopo University in South Jakarta earlier in the day.
At least 25 students were injured when hundreds of their counterparts attempted to force their way into the House compound, were halted by riot police officers who then fired rubber bullets and hit the protesters with their batons. Three police officers and a Kamra member were wounded in the head.
Among the onlookers of the rally near the House was Faisal Basri, general-secretary of the National Mandate Party (PAN).
According to him, he was there merely to demonstrate strong moral support for the students.
In Yogyakarta, thousands of students also rallied to oppose the approval of the bill. They marched toward the local council building on the main avenue of Jl. Malioboro.
Another group of protesters staged a protest at the Tugu intersection.
The protesters received strong support from four factions of the council, namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Awakening Party (PKB), Golkar Party and PAN.
"The new legislators should and will revoke the law (later)," said a PKB representative.
All four factions expressed a hope that the newly appointed legislators would later meet people's demands.
About 1,000 students and youths of various organizations in Surabaya continued to stage a mass protest at the local legislative office even after the bill had been passed.
"(Jakarta) Legislators have betrayed the people," shouted the protesters. "We will keep on fighting."
In Semarang, about 250 students went to the local military district office on Jl. Pemuda. The protesters climbed the wall and shouted objections against the bill.
"We reject the bill and will continue the fight," shouted one of them.
In Medan, hundreds of students thronged to the North Sumatra Council building.
"The security bill is clearly just to legitimize repressive action against people by the military," Simson, one activist, said. (03/04/06/23/39/44/har/nur/edt/rms/jun/asa/ylt)