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)