Students behind antigovt protest to be summoned
Students behind antigovt protest to be summoned
JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi said
on Friday that the police would summon student activists
responsible for the massive anti-Habibie protest at the House of
Representatives' (DPR) building in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.
Roesmanhadi said that the activists would be questioned in
connection with the destruction of the wire fence between the
street in front of the building and the toll road and the
disruption of traffic when they occupied all four carriageways of
Jl. Gatot Subroto and the toll road.
"I've ordered the city police to summon those responsible for
organizing the rally," he told reporters after checking on the
security officers stationed at the House of Representatives
building complex.
An estimated 10,000 demonstrators, including students from the
University of Indonesia, the City Forum (Forkot), the
Communication Forum for Jakarta Student Senates (FKSMJ) and
Student Action Front for Reform and Democracy (Famred), demanded
that President B.J. Habibie immediately hand over power to a
transitional government free of Soeharto-era officials.
"They were no longer voicing their aspirations. They were
forcing their own wishes," said Roesmanhadi.
City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman, however, said
on Friday that his officers had yet to summon the student
activists.
"Our investigation is underway but we haven't summoned any
students for questioning."
Roesmanhadi's determination to take stern measures against any
vandalism brought about by gatherings or demonstrations is a new
policy.
It comes a week after the enactment of the law on freedom of
expression on Oct. 23, the day after the House of Representatives
endorsed it.
The law says that protesters need to notify the police in
writing three days ahead of any planned demonstration.
Details must include the objectives of the gathering, the
venue, itinerary, time of commencement and duration, names and
addresses of the individuals or groups organizing the action,
equipment to be used and the number of participants.
The term "expression of opinion in public" in the law covers
demonstrations, street rallies, mass gatherings and free-speech
forums.
Roesmanhadi's tough stance, however, is inconsistent as no
action was taken when oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro's house was
attacked by an angry mob claiming to be members of the People's
Savior Front, earlier this month.
The mob pelted stones at the businessman's luxury property on
Jl. Jenggala in South Jakarta, smashing windows of the house and
Arifin's two cars, including a Mercedes Benz sedan.
Members of a similar group then took part in a rally in front
of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute in Central Jakarta on Oct.
12.
The people, who called themselves the People's Voice Committee
smashed the office's main entrance and several windows in front
of dozens of police officers who were on alert in the area.
However, there were no arrests nor summons made following the
incident.
Earlier on Friday Roesmanhadi inspected a parade of the troops
at the Senayan East Parking Lot in Central Jakarta.
About 16,800 security officers, consisting of 11,800 police
officers and 5,000 soldiers, attended to demonstrate their
readiness to safeguard the city during the People's Consultative
Assembly's Special Session which takes place from Nov. 10 to Nov.
13.
Some 2,000 of the 16,800 officers are stationed inside the DPR
building complex. (ivy/emf)