Police pledge to ban gatherings lacking permits
Police pledge to ban gatherings lacking permits
JAKARTA (JP): Police warned yesterday that they will ban any
gathering which lacks an official permit or recommendation papers
from the authorities.
"We do not disobey any rules and regulations in this country,"
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. K. Ratta announced
yesterday.
Recently, a number of lawyers strongly protested against the
police action, saying that it runs counter to the spirit of the
1945 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association and
speech.
The one-star general said that the police's decision to
dissolve unlicensed gatherings is required by law as stipulated
in Article 510 of the Criminal Code and a temporary government
regulation (Pnps) issued in 1963.
According to the Criminal Code, holding a public gathering or
a campaign in a public space without a permit from the police or
the appointed civil officer is punishable by a maximum fine of Rp
375 (17 US cents). Demonstrating without a permit is punishable
by a maximum prison term of two weeks or a maximum fine of Rp
2,250. The rule, however, excludes private parties at home, such
as birthdays and marriages.
"Nobody will know what is discussed at a seminar, for example,
if we have not been informed about it beforehand," the police
spokesman said. "Who will take responsibility if something
happens later?"
"Even those holding a birthday party need to inform the head
of the neighborhood," he said. However, "we would appreciate when
the hosts inform police, so they can take initial measures to
handle the traffic flow and maintain order and security during
the party.
"Our main target is to help secure the public," Ratta said.
Scapegoats
By doing so, there will be no more scapegoats if such a
gathering leads to a heavy traffic jam or riot, he explained.
"In many cases, members of the community single out the police
as the scapegoat when a meeting degenerates into chaos," he said.
"The people blame the police saying that they arrived on the
scene late or failed to anticipate the incident."
When asked about the meeting of the Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) to be held next week in Surabaya, East Java, Ratta
said that the National Police Headquarters has yet to issue a
permit for the party as it has not yet received any
recommendation papers from the local authorities, such as the
governor and military officials.
"We'll not issue a permit as long as there is no
recommendation from the local authorities who better understand
the situation there," he said.
He said that the police have banned at least three meetings or
seminars in the past three months because the organizers did not
have official permits. (bsr)