Police get tough on demos

Damar Harsanto and Abu Hanifah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The police took stern action against anti-U.S. demonstrators on Wednesday, arresting at least five protesters and beating others when they refused to leave.

"They are free to express their views, but that doesn't mean they are free to commit a crime," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr.Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said here on Wednesday.

He told The Jakarta Post that the police would take firm action against any form of protest which could lead to anarchy and disrupt public order.

Anton said police had detained six protesters for public order offenses during Wednesday's rallies. Four were students grouped in the Jakarta branch of the Association of Islamic Students-MPO (HMI), who are accused of tearing up the U.S. flag in front of the U.S. Embassy.

"Tearing up a flag, which is the national symbol of a state, is a crime. This crime is punishable by four years imprisonment according to Article 142a of the Criminal Code," he explained.

Police also detained two other protesters for possession of a machete and pickpocketing during Wednesday's rally.

A group of 30 students from Attahiriyah University, Jakarta were physically removed by police officers when they refused to leave.

Another group from the Indonesian Youth Movement were guarded by the police to ensure they would not get closer to the embassy compound.

Police based their firm action on the law enacted on October 26, 1998, during the administration of former president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie.

Articles No. 9 to No. 18 in the law set out the procedures required for holding a protest. The law states, among other things, that people wishing to launch a protest should submit a letter first to the police three days before the planned protest.

It also states that no protests are allowed in the presidential palace, places of worship, military installations, hospitals, airports, railway stations, bus stations and other vital installations.

Anyone who violates the law faces one year imprisonment.

Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil said that all demonstrations should be carried out in accordance with prevailing laws.

"Security officers should not be hesitant to take firm action against protesters breaking the law," he said after briefing district military commanders from all over the country here on Wednesday.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has stressed that security officers would take stern action against demonstrators breaking the law.

The police intensified their efforts on Wednesday to enforce the law. They established eight camps near the U.S. Embassy.

They also brought in two more water canons and placed them in strategic positions.

Ranks of police in full riot gear stood on alert in front of the barbed wire.

Anton also said that the police had increased its personnel to guard the capital from any destructive acts.

Beno Kilapong, the commander of the Jakarta Police Mobile Brigade, said security personnel at the U.S. Embassy had been increased in anticipation of escalating protests.

"There have been signs that more protests will be staged in the coming days," Beno told The Post, adding that Tuesday's clash between police and protesters could trigger another wave of protests.

Beno said the police had added three more companies to the existing three standing by at the embassy.

Police also increased its number of officers guarding the British Embassy at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

People in the vicinity of the British Embassy were shocked by a blast at about 3:30 p.m., which caused some panic with people believing it was a bomb blast.

Police, however, said the blast was in fact a controlled explosion by the bomb squad on a package that was suspected of containing a bomb.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI) insisted on Wednesday that it would continue to protest the U.S.-led attacks in Afghanistan.

"We will continue our rallies until the government realizes our demands to sever diplomatic ties with the U.S.," Habib Muhammad Rizieq said following a two-and-half-hour meeting with the Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Adang Rochjana.

"During our informal talk with Pak Adang, we came to no agreement with the police on whether to call off a search for foreigners or our plans to attack U.S.-owned assets," he said.

Habib, who was accompanied by six FPI members, met Adang on Wednesday to ask for clarification on a clash between police and FPI protesters on Tuesday.

During the meeting, police allowed the FPI to proceed with its protests but they should be conducted in accordance with prevailing law.