Police urge protesters not to damage public facilities during demonstration
Jakarta Metropolitan Police have urged all elements of society planning to hold demonstrations in Jakarta to maintain public order and refrain from damaging public facilities during the expression of their views.
Head of Public Relations of Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stressed that joint security personnel are ready to provide ample space for citizens wishing to express their aspirations in public in accordance with the law, but this must be done politely and responsibly.
“We urge members of the public who are expressing their aspirations not to damage public facilities, not to disrupt the activities of other members of the public, and to continue thinking about keeping Indonesia safe, peaceful and conducive,” Budi said when met at the DPR Building in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He explained that the expression of opinion in public is guaranteed by Article 9 of Law Number 9 of 1998, which accommodates demonstrations, deliberations, public meetings and marches.
However, the exercise of this right must not harm the public interest or damage city facilities and infrastructure.
To maintain security and order in the city, officers have deployed personnel at several points where crowds are expected to gather, especially in the area of the DPR/MPR RI Building and the strategic route from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout to the State Palace.
In addition to the appeal to protect public facilities, Budi also asked the public to be smart and wise in filtering information on social media so as not to be easily influenced by provocative issues, slander or disinformation surrounding the security situation in Jakarta.
“We also urge all levels of society to be wise in using social media. Because as time goes by we see more and more disinformation, slander, provocation and misleading issues, we hope the public will also be wise in filtering such information,” said Budi.
Jakarta Metropolitan Police have prepared personnel at various points in Jakarta to oversee the demonstration scheduled to take place on Thursday (27/8).
The police are coordinating with the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Jakarta Provincial Government and internal security officers at various points, including the DPR and agencies in the area around the Hotel Indonesia roundabout towards the Jakarta Presidential Palace.
“At several of these points we have also made preparations for securing the expression of opinion,” said Head of Public Relations of Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Police Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, when met at the DPR RI Building in Jakarta on Wednesday.