Dasco: We Respect the Demonstrations, We Will Introspect

JAKARTA - Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, stated that the DPR respects the public demonstration in front of the MPR/DPR building. Dasco said that council members will conduct introspection by considering the demands of the demonstrators.

Dasco urged all demonstrators to behave orderly and follow applicable laws.

"Yes, we fundamentally respect the right to associate, assemble, and express opinions. Of course, if you voice your aspirations to the DPR, we will welcome it and conduct internal introspection. However, we urge the public and those who express their aspirations to the DPR to do so in an orderly manner and follow applicable regulations," Dasco said, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, August 25.

Thousands of demonstrators filled the front and back gates of the DPR to voice a number of demands, including transparency in DPR member salaries, the cancellation of the policy of providing housing allowances for DPR members, and the halt to the planned salary increase for DPR members.

Several police officers on guard fired water cannons at the demonstrators since Monday afternoon, along with tear gas.

Chaos erupted among the protesters at the demonstration site, with several demonstrators and journalists being beaten by police.

The demonstration continued into the evening. Clashes between the protesters and police, who attempted to disperse the crowd, continued until after 6:00 PM WIB.

Around 6:30 PM WIB, police began to disperse the crowd, which was dominated by students. Hundreds of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (Polri) personnel remained on guard around the DPR building to anticipate any further influx of protesters.

By evening, although the crowd had gradually dispersed, police had not yet reopened the road to four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles.

Traffic control measures remained in effect on Jalan Gatot Subroto leading to Slipi and Grogol.