Protesters persist with rallies despite police ban
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Two groups of protesters went ahead with their rallies in two separate locations in Jakarta on Saturday despite stiff security measures. The groups targeted the tightly guarded venues around Senayan and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
They claimed they had informed the police of their intention in accordance to regulations.
Hundreds of people from 68 non-governmental organizations in the Greater Jakarta area and West Java, grouped in the United People of Indonesia for Anti-Imperialism (Perisai), said they had gathered since 3 a.m. inside the Istiqlal mosque in Central Jakarta.
Before the protesters could get to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and at the U.S. Embassy, both in Central Jakarta, they were stymied by hundreds of police officers.
After lengthy negotiations they were allowed to move out of the mosque to rally in front of the U.S. Embassy and the independence declaration monument in Central Jakarta.
Under heavy police escort, the protesters marched to the embassy, and shouted slogans against imperialism, which they said had been led by the U.S. government.
"We want the participants of the summit to remember that the original message of the 1955 conference was to fight imperialism," Irvan, Perisai's spokesman was quoted by Antara as saying.
Another gathering, which was dispersed immediately by the police, was a meditation protest conducted by Falun Gong members from across the country.
Around 50 Falun Gong members, who were meditating in front of the entrance of the Senayan Sport Complex in Central Jakarta, were immediately driven out away from the complex, while many of them were taken away in police paddy wagons and dropped off in the Kelapa Gading area of North Jakarta.
"We don't understand why they are prohibiting us from staging a peaceful call on the international community to help our fellow Falun Gong members in China," Hok Soebagio, the coordinator of the rally, told The Jakarta Post. He claimed that fellow members had been "brutally tortured by China's government over the past five years," he said.
Meanwhile, city police said that overall, there were no security disturbances. "Jakarta was safe on Saturday. Thanks to people's support, we can do our duty properly. However, we are still on full alert to prevent any possible problems," said city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono.
He added that the police had arrested 130 people for carrying sharp weapons, firearms and narcotics.
Police are also guarding the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, which will be used by most summit delegates to travel to Bandung on Saturday evening.