Police to disperse demonstrators

Police to disperse demonstrators

JAKARTA: City police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara said
on Wednesday that the police would forcibly disperse any
protesters who fail to give three-days advance notice to the
police of their intention to demonstrate.

"I have received many protests from the public and members of
the House of Representatives accusing me of not enforcing Law
No.9/1998 on how people exercise their freedom of expression,"
Makbul told reporters.

Citing Article 10 of the law, he said that the police must be
notified of any demonstration taking place three days prior to
the event. Otherwise, the police have the authority to disperse
the demonstrators.

"From now on, I will take sterner action (against the
protesters)," he said.

Hundreds of students recently attempted to rally near
President Megawati Soekarnoputri's official residence on Jl.
Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta. The students could not proceed as
police officers barricaded off the entrance to the street.--JP