Metro Jaya Police release 101 individuals detained during May Day
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Metro Jaya Police stated that 101 individuals detained for allegedly planning riots at Monas or in front of the DPR/MPR building during International Labour Day (May Day) on Friday (1/5), have now been released to their respective homes.
“Last night, those 101 people had already returned to their homes, picked up by family and accompanied by LBH Jakarta,” said the Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Commissioner Pol Budi Hermanto, in his statement on Saturday.
However, he said that the seized evidence items and leaflets containing the action plans are still being examined in depth by the Metro Jaya Police’s Satgas Gakkum.
Budi added that his side is also still investigating and seeking to identify the actors behind the plan, including the fundraisers.
Previously, Metro Jaya Police had conducted early detection and prevention efforts against several anarchist or riotous groups attempting to infiltrate the labour actions at Monas or in front of the DPR/MPR building during the International Labour Day (May Day) commemoration.
“In order to uphold the dignity of democracy and ensure the right to express opinions in public complies with applicable laws and regulations, we continue to take action, both preemptively, preventively, and repressively,” said the Director of General Criminal Investigation of Metro Jaya Police, Commissioner Pol Iman Imanuddin, during a press conference at the Metro Jaya Police Promoter Building on Friday (1/5).
He revealed that his side also secured items suspected to be used for riots during the May Day celebrations, especially in front of the DPR/MPR building, including empty bottles and trigger cloths for making Molotov cocktails, concrete nails for damaging buildings or concrete barriers, slingshots with marbles for attacking officers, and documents planning the riots.
Iman emphasised that Metro Jaya Police took anticipatory steps before these groups carried out riots or criminal acts. Therefore, those caught carrying dangerous items supporting riots have been detained for further investigation.
“Some 101 people are providing information to us, and we stated that after the information provision is complete, they will immediately return to their respective homes,” Iman revealed.