Police urge protesters to safeguard public facilities ahead of 27 August demonstration

POLICE have urged all elements of society staging demonstrations in DKI Jakarta to maintain public order and refrain from damaging public facilities during the expression of their views.

Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, 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 carried out in a courteous and responsible manner.

“We urge members of the public expressing their aspirations not to damage public facilities, not to disregard the activities of other citizens, and to continue thinking about keeping Indonesia safe, peaceful, and conducive,” said Budi when met at the DPR Building in Jakarta on Wednesday (26/8).

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 parades. Nevertheless, the exercise of this right must not harm the public interest or damage city facilities and infrastructure.

Budi also asked the public to be intelligent 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 we see that there is increasingly more disinformation, slander, provocation, and misleading issues day by day, we hope the public will also be wise in filtering such information,” said Budi.

To maintain security and order in the city, officers have deployed personnel at several points where crowds are concentrated, especially in the area of the DPR/MPR RI Building and strategic routes from the HI Roundabout to the State Palace.

Polda Metro Jaya has prepared personnel at various points in Jakarta to oversee the demonstration scheduled to take place on Thursday (27/8).

Police are coordinating with the TNI, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, and internal security officers at various strategic points, including the parliamentary complex and institutions along the corridor from the HI Roundabout to the Jakarta Presidential Palace.

“At several of these points we are also making preparations for securing the expression of aspirations,” said Budi.