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