Students stage protest against permit policy
JAKARTA (JP): Approximately 60 students staged a protest at the House of Representatives yesterday, calling for the abolition of the government policy of requiring permits to hold gatherings.
Calling themselves the United Struggling Indonesian Youths, the students unfurled banners, held out placards and shouted their demands that the representative body heed the growing "crisis of trust" among the people.
"The public is now apathetic toward the authorities actions, and is currently experiencing a crisis of trust toward the parliament's sincerity in fighting for the interests of the people," the students said in a statement.
They called for the abolition of article 510 of the Criminal Code and the Laws on Subversion, which are usually used by the authorities to deny requests for permits to hold gatherings or to disband meetings.
"The article is no longer suitable for the growing demands of openness in society," they said.
The students also sang patriotic songs and held their midday prayers in the House's compound.
The protesters, who are members of several organizations, including the youth section of the Nahdlatul Ulama Moslem organization, demanded, but failed, to meet with House Speaker Wahono.
They were met, instead, by Djuwardi Effendi, Soedaryanto and Wiyanjono, members of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction. Following this, the students dispersed peacefully.
In a related development, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman told reporters, covering hearings at the House yesterday, that the government intended to "put in order" the existing policies requiring people to obtain permission to hold academic seminars.
The move is expected to end the confusion and polemics over whether scientific seminars should be covered by the permits' policy, he said.
He called on the public not to be suspicious of the government's plan to review the policy.
"Don't think that if we wished to put something in order, it would mean that we wanted to tighten supervision," he said.
"God willing, I guarantee it would not be like that," he said.
The controversies surrounding the government's plan to review the policy, which requires people to obtain permission before they can hold any meeting, are still growing.
A number of observers have called on the government to either abolish the policy, or revise it, so that there are clear guidelines as to what kind of gatherings need permits. The public has also called on the authorities to exempt scientific meetings in universities from the policy.
Legal experts have pointed out that article 510 of the Criminal Code was actually established to regulate gatherings such as wedding receptions, and is therefore unapplicable to scientific seminars.
Oetojo also said that an inter-ministerial team is currently preparing a draft bill on demonstrations. The team, made up of experts from the ministries of justice, home affairs and security, is expected to submit the bill to the House later this year, he said. (swe/imn)