Togar says protesters fail to follow the law

JAKARTA (JP): National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Togar M. Sianipar lambasted on Thursday the general failure to comply with a law requiring people to inform the police before staging a protest in the city.

"Only 30 to 40 percent of protest organizers have informed the police before staging their protests on the city's streets," Togar said after attending a seminar on the prosecution of former president Soeharto at Wisma Antara in Central Jakarta.

Togar said protesters, particularly students, ignored Law No. 9/1998 on Freedom of Expression, which requires a letter of notification be filed with the local police at least three days prior to a protest.

Togar said he was "very concerned" by the ongoing phenomenon.

"The law was created and endorsed by the House of Representatives. It is binding to all people.

"Indonesia is a country which upholds the supremacy of law. How can we establish peace and order in society if our people casually breach the law," he asked.

Togar said the police would not hesitate to take firm measures against protesters who failed to comply with the law.

The number of protests in the capital has escalated since students succeeded in toppling former president Soeharto in May last year. The city's streets have been the scene of thousands of protests since last year, mostly involving students.

A student activist, however, said protesters should not be bound to obey the freedom of expression law, saying it was a legacy of the New Order regime.

"The DPR (House) members who produced and endorsed the law were elected in the 1997 general election, which was also a product of the New Order government," a student at As-Syafi'iyah Islamic University, Mixil, said.

The freedom of expression law was introduced by the government in October last year.

Mixil, also an activist with City Forum, said freedom of expression could not be restricted by laws.

"Democracy assures people can freely air their political views without being restrained by someone else," he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. (asa)