Motive behind Timorese sit-in remains mystery
Motive behind Timorese sit-in remains mystery
JAKARTA (JP): The motive behind last week's protests staged by 113 East Timorese and non-East Timorese at the Russian and Dutch embassies here is unknown.
Jakarta Police Department Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said that his office is still analyzing the motive. He declined to go into detail.
Iman said that during the 24-hour questioning each protester gave ambiguous reasons why they broke into the embassies.
"They told the interrogators that they just wanted to meet the ambassadors," Iman said.
"But we won't say their backgrounds are unknown to us," Iman said.
When questioned on the possibility of requesting political asylum, the protesters said they had no idea, the spokesman said.
Before leaving the embassy compound, the protesters made three demands: referendum on the question of East Timor's integration with Indonesia; withdrawal of all troops from the territory; and the release of all East Timorese political prisoners.
Police suspect an alternative reason for occupying the embassies.
They also sought government assurances of their safety once they came out of the embassies.
The 113 protesters were divided into two groups, all of whom were released from police custody on Saturday and Sunday evening after breaking into the embassies on Thursday.
The first group, consisting of 46 East Timorese and 12 non- East Timorese, ended their occupation of the Russian Embassy on Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Friday.
The 58 protesters were immediately taken to city police headquarters on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta for interrogation.
The other group of 55 protesters, including 17 East Timorese, left the Dutch Embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta after a two-day protest and were rushed to the police station.
All the protesters were released after being identified and interrogated for almost 24 hours.
By law, police have the right to interrogate people for their alleged roles in crimes for no longer than 24 hours, unless found guilty.
The identities of the protesters were not made available to the press.
According to spokesman Iman, it was the embassies who asked the police to take the protesters away.
Based on preliminary investigation, police found no strong evidence to charge the protesters with criminal acts, he said.
No damage has been reported by the embassies, he said.
"We also have no details on the party behind all these matters," Iman said.
Earlier, a police official said that the embassies have the right to charge the protesters for illegally breaking into their compounds.
However, Iman said, the police will summon the protesters for questioning if necessary. (bsr)