Shouting match with police stops traffic
Shouting match with police stops traffic
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Thousands of demonstrators from the Qaryah Tayyibah Farmers
Association were nearly involved in a clash on Saturday with
police in Salatiga, about 100 kilometers south of the Central
Java capital Semarang.
The demonstrators, farmers from around Central Java who were
demanding land reform, initially engaged in a shouting match with
dozens of police officers. The situation then threatened to get
out of control after police took Ruth Mutiasih, the
demonstration's organizer, into custody.
The near clash occurred when the demonstrators attempted to
march from the Widyagraha building on Jl. Soekarno-Hatta, where
they had attended a discussion.
At about 1 p.m., the crowd was mobilized and had occupied the
street, bringing traffic to a standstill.
According to the initial plan, the demonstrators were to march
from Jl. Soekarno-Hatta to Jl. Jendral Sudirman, Jl. Diponegoro,
Jl. Wahid Hasyim and Jl.Kartini, ending in Pancasila Square.
However, because the march would have caused massive traffic
jams, police blocked the demonstrators from entering Jl. Jendral
Sudirman, Antara news agency reported.
As the farmers were marching and listening to a speech by Ruth
Mutiasih, they were blocked by a police unit headed by Comr. Yudi
P. The officers ordered the demonstrators to disperse.
A standoff ensued between Ruth and the police, with officers
eventually forcing the demonstration leader down from the roof of
a car and taking her back to the police station.
Police questioned at least 10 other people about the incident.
They were still being questioned as of Saturday evening.
Police also seized several items as evidence, including a
pickup truck, a motorcycle, dozens of banners and pamphlets.
Salatiga Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Wanto Sumardi said police
dispersed the crowd because they did not have a permit for the
march. .
"Besides, the protest could disrupt the cooling-off period
prior to the elections," he said.