Metro Jaya Police Chief Stresses Humane Approach in Securing Student Protest
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Metro Jaya Police Chief Komjen Pol Asep Edi Suheri reminded all personnel tasked with securing a student protest on Friday to treat the demonstrators with a humane approach, as part of the family.
“I entrust all personnel, our younger student siblings are our family. They are not opponents, but members of the public whom we must serve, protect, and secure to the best of our ability,” Asep said while leading a personnel readiness parade in Jakarta on Friday.
Asep stressed the importance of patience and measured conduct for the 6,088 joint TNI-Polri personnel deployed in the field, consisting of 500 TNI personnel, 1,000 Mobile Brigade Corps (Korbrimob) personnel, 200 BKO Korsabhara personnel, 3,802 Metro Jaya Police personnel, and 586 personnel from the Metro Resort Police ranks.
He asked his members not to be easily provoked when facing the dynamics of the crowd at several points, such as the DPR/MPR RI Building, the Horse Statue area, and the Cikini area.
To guarantee this humane commitment, the three-star general confirmed that no security personnel would be equipped with or carry firearms to the protest site.
He also instructed that all troop movements be under one official command to avoid repressive actions outside of procedure.
“All actions in the field must be under one command. There must be no individual initiative without instruction. Carry out duties with full responsibility, humanely, measured, and according to procedure,” Asep said.
“We appeal to and invite our younger student siblings to convey their aspirations properly, orderly, and to continue respecting road users and other members of the public going about their activities,” said Budi.
The police also asked students to look out for one another within their ranks to prevent infiltration by other groups intending to provoke or disrupt the civility of the protest.
To maintain the smooth flow of activities for Jakarta residents, the Metro Jaya Police Traffic Directorate has deployed personnel at various congestion-prone points to conduct situational and humane traffic management.
“We hope that this service and security operation for the expression of opinions can proceed safely, orderly, smoothly, and under control,” said Budi.