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.