Yogyakarta police free protesters

Yogyakarta police free protesters

JAKARTA (JP): Police in Yogyakarta released 45 students and human rights activists yesterday that had been detained on Wednesday for staging a demonstration against the recent arrest of journalists in Jakarta.

"They were released at 7 a.m. and nobody was left," Second Sergeant Agus Suparno told The Jakarta Post by phone last night.

Meanwhile Head of the Detective Unit Capt. Sumartono said the 45 protesters were arrested to secure public order and stabilize traffic.

"We had to break the procession because they were holding an action without giving prior notice to the authorities," Sumartono said to Antara.

Several hundred students and human rights activists staged a rally from Gajah Mada University to the local legislative council office located about three kilometers from campus. The police soon broke up the procession and arrested 45.

During the campus demonstration the students unfurled placards and banners criticizing the government and the Indonesian Journalists Association for restraining press freedom.

The protesters also demanded the release of three activists from the unrecognized Alliance of Independent Journalists and another from the Pijar Foundation, a non-governmental organization well-known for its outspokenness.(imn)