Rendra arrested as protests turn into scuffles

JAKARTA (JP): Vocal poet W.S. Rendra and scores of activists were arrested yesterday as police and the military clamped down on two separate demonstrations, both opposing the government ban on Tempo, DeTIK and Editor news magazines.

The first group -- comprising about 300 students, journalists and activists -- was stopped by police at the end of Jl. Thamrin as they marched from the Sarinah department store to the Ministry of Information office on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat.

Security officers, armed with rattan sticks, charged at the protesters after repeated warnings to disperse were ignored. Some of the students were reported injured in the scuffle.

The second demonstration occurred barely an hour later.

This one was led by Rendra himself, who, with members of his Bengkel Teater group, gathered at Monas Park just across the Ministry of Information.

Rendra managed to read one of his poems before the gathering was forcibly dissolved by security officers, again after their warnings went ignored.

Scuffles ensued between security officers and protesters before police managed to take control of the situation by loading some of the protesters, including Rendra, onto a police truck driven to the Central Jakarta Police Precinct.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) said one of the injured protesters was noted painter Semsar Siahaan who was being treated at the Army Hospital.

"I just want to show my solidarity towards Tempo" Rendra told journalists as he was being taken away by two security officers.

The entire incident was watched closely by Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Moch. Hindarto, who claimed "they have broken the law by conducting a gathering of more than five people without a permit."

In both incidents, the police force was reinforced by a unit from Operasi Bersih, or the cleaning operation by the Jakarta Military Command which was established to fight crime in the city.

YLBHI was negotiating with the Central Jakarta Police precinct for their release or at least the right to legal counsel for the 32 people who were still being detained last night.

Public disorder

YLBHI officials said the protesters were likely to be charged with creating public disorder and holding a mass gathering in a public place without a permit. The police hoped to speed up the process by giving them a quick trial at the Central Jakarta District Court today, they said.

Rendra was visited by his daughter Clara Shinta in police detention in the afternoon. "He's fine, and he's not injured," Clara said.

Earlier in the morning, the Ministry of Information office was also the target of a demonstration, this one supporting the government's ban against the three magazines. In contrast, this demonstration was allowed to proceed in an orderly fashion.

The estimated 100 youths calling themselves The Jakarta Forum for Young Generation submitted a petition in support of the ban, but urged the government to help find a way out for the 800 displaced journalists and workers of the three magazines.

The same group, joined by about 100 others, later visited the House of Representatives to present a similar message.

This time however they brought along huge posters denouncing members of the press who claim to represent the aspirations of the people and who abuse the freedom given to them.

In Yogyakarta, the demonstration also saw the participation of writer Umar Kayam, mass communication expert Ashadi Siregar, poet Emha Ainun Najib, and political scientist Afan Gaffar.

There were reports of scuffles as police charged at the protesters after failing to disperse them. Several protesters were injured and others arrested.

Criticism

News of the clampdown against demonstrators was quickly criticized by some legislators yesterday who insisted that resorting to violence and arrests was totally uncalled for.

Oka Mahendra of the dominant Golkar faction questioned why the demonstration against the press ban was dissolved, but not the one that supported the government move.

"They are using a double standard," Oka said.

He added that the demonstrations simply reflected differences of opinion existing in society, something which is guaranteed by the constitution. "Why did they have to crack down on them?"

Sukowaluyo of the Indonesian Democratic Party also agreed that the clampdown was a violation of the people's democratic rights.

He said that he was shocked by the beefed-up security presence as he drove past the Ministry of Information office yesterday morning. "I don't think that's correct. Instead of closing the doors, the government should invite those who have different opinions in for a dialog."

Sabam Sirait urged the police to exercise restraint. "I pledge, don't beat the demonstrators," he said. (rid/arf/mun/rms)