Protesters persist with rallies despite police ban

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.