Protesters clash with police, 150 apprehended

JAKARTA (JP): At least 150 people, including 14 women and two children, were apprehended during a demonstration yesterday over soaring prices, and taken to Jakarta Police Headquarters.

They were among 500 protesters who marched to the Attorney General's Office in the Blok M business district before heading to the Ministry of Manpower on Jl. Gatot Subroto, both in South Jakarta.

The protesters, who called themselves the Red and White Nationalist Front, arrived at noon in minibuses and other forms of public transportation.

They demanded the Attorney General's Office take proactive measures to follow up on what the group called mismanagement and misconduct among government officials.

"The office should not hesitate to conduct investigations into the 30 percent leakage in the state budget, as reported by senior economist Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo, and the mounting debts of Indonesian businesspeople," they said in a statement.

Four group representatives met with the office's chief of intelligence, Sudibyo Saleh, and lodged their petition.

"I cannot tell you the office's response to your petition because I haven't met the Attorney General regarding its contents," Sudibyo said, "But, I'll make sure that your petition reaches the Attorney General."

Having completed their mission at the office, the group then marched to the Ministry of Manpower office.

Protesters called on the government to make serious efforts to prevent the rising level of unemployment and reestablish the prices of the nine basic food commodities to precrisis levels.

A few representatives were ushered into the ministry's office but hundreds of police and military troops foiled the attempts of other protesters to reach the office, closing the complex's front gate.

Some protesters also clashed with police prior to reaching the office.

Police apprehended some people on Jl. Trunojoyo and Jl. Mampang Prapatan, both in South Jakarta, while others were picked up in front of the ministry office.

They were later taken to Jakarta Police headquarters for questioning.

Deputy city police chief Brig. Gen. Gunawan said the alleged demonstrators were apprehended because they violated a regulation on mass gatherings.

"They participated in a mass gathering, in this case parading along the street, without any permit from the authorities," he said during a media briefing.

He said articles 510 and 511 of the Criminal Code stated that any mass gathering, including parties and parades on the street, could be held only if it had been approved by police or other relevant authorities.

Violations carry a maximum fine of between Rp 25 and Rp 250 or two weeks imprisonment.

Gunawan reiterated that those who had been apprehended were not considered criminals.

"They only violated the regulations."

The people rounded up during yesterday's protest were not taken to police headquarters in order to be detained, he said.

"First, we will register their particulars and questioned them about their alleged involvement in the parade. If they are not guilty, then why should we detain them here."

Gunawan declined to say how long the identification process and questioning would take.

"Just give us time. We'll do the processing as quickly as possible, but I can't tell you how long it will take."

He said police seized six T-shirts with the words "Megawati for president".

Some of the 150 people apprehended by police, denied their involvement in the rally.

Fatiya, 25, told reporters that she had stepped off a bus and was standing at a shelter near the Mampang four-way intersection when officers grabbed her and told her to get into the police truck.

Sunariah, a housewife in Central Jakarta, her friend Dedeh and two of Dedeh's children were standing at a bus shelter in front of the Ministry of Manpower's office when they were apprehended.

The protesters, who were believed to be supporters of the ousted leader of Indonesian Democratic Party Megawati Soekarnoputri, held a demonstration in front of the central bank building on Jl. MH. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Monday. (jun/cst/imn)