'Police arrests human rights'

'Police arrests human rights'

A number of persons have reportedly disappeared or been forcibly
taken into custody by the police due to their alleged terrorist
links. Rights groups have lambasted the police moves as
violations of basic human rights. The Jakarta Post asked some
residents about the latest police response to the terrorist
threat.

Hasan, 35, is the father of five children and works as a
newspaper vendor in Grogol, West Jakarta. He resides in
Pejompongan, Central Jakarta:

I'm sure that the police will never accept the blame for their
inappropriate actions, including the recent arrests of alleged
terrorist suspects.

I think the arrest of these people by the police here is, in a
way, against human rights. They are not necessarily terrorists as
the police have assumed.

I keep on wondering how the police can so easily arrest people
without clear evidence of their guilt.

On the other hand, the police let prominent corruption
suspects off even if there is crystal clear evidence of their
wrongdoing.

I guess it was far better under the New Order regime when the
security forces could work out these sort of cases without the
public noticing them. It was safe and everything was under
control.

Tofik, 25, is a street hawker selling tissues on public
transportation vehicles. He lives in Kalimalang, East Jakarta,
with his wife and daughter:

I think the arrests by police of several people suspected of
having links with terrorists is going too far.

It could even be considered as being against human rights as
I'm sure the police don't yet have hard evidence to back up their
allegations.

I cannot imagine what will happen to the families of the
arrested people. Assuming that these people were the breadwinners
for their families, I don't think the security forces here will
accept any responsibility for the upkeep of their dependents.

The arrests would be acceptable if police intelligence had
clear evidence regarding the involvement of these people in
terrorism.

Engkus, 30, is a sidewalk vendor selling mineral water in
Petamburan, Central Jakarta. He lives nearby with his wife and
three children:

From the point of view of low income people, I think the
brutal arrests of people for their alleged involvement in
terrorism by the police is not acceptable.

Honestly, I disagree with these arrests. It was so strange to
see that their families were only given the arrest warrants after
their loved ones had been seized.

Police intelligence should have thoroughly investigated and
monitored the suspects, including questioning people in their
neighborhoods, before arresting them.

I'm sure that police detectives and intelligence agents are
highly educated and well-trained people. I hope the police are
not just out to put on a show of force in this case.

Leo Wahyudi S