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)