Protesters clash with police, 150 apprehended

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)