IPW Reminds Police To Secure April 11 Demo Must Be In Accordance With SOPs And Must Not Cross The Limit

Illustration of police guarding student demonstrations/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) reminded the National Police to carry out their responsibility for securing and overseeing student demonstrations, Monday, April 11, according to standard security operating procedures (SOPs).

IPW chairman Sugeng Teguh Santoso asked the National Police to carry out their main duties and functions (tupoksi), provide services and security, and guard the demonstrations of the All-Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM-SI), because the expression of opinions in public is guaranteed by law, in accordance with the law, with Article 7 of Law Number 9 of 1998 concerning Freedom to Express Opinions in Public.

"Therefore, the National Police must be able to respect the rights of citizens and the community to voice their opinions on the problems being faced through standard security SOPs. So, repressive actions when the situation on the ground heats up must be avoided by still prioritizing crowd control forces (dalmas)," said Sugeng in his statement, Monday, April 11.

In securing and guarding the mass action, Sugeng also reminded that the shift and withdrawal of the Dalmas troops with riot troops (PHH) must be avoided and used as a last resort if the situation gets out of control.

Because, he said, usually the shift or change would trigger friction between the protesters and the security forces.

"Not infrequently, this causes chaos in a chaotic situation," said Sugeng.

This request, said Sugeng, was in accordance with the direction of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD, who asked the participants of the 11 April 2022 student action to demonstrate in an orderly manner and not violate the rules.

The direction was conveyed in a Limited Coordination Meeting regarding the development of the domestic political and security situation, at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Central Jakarta, Saturday 9 April.

During the meeting, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs said that the Government had coordinated with the security forces. In fact, Mahfud emphasized that the security forces on duty during the action were not allowed to use violence, let alone carry live ammunition.

"There should be no violence, no live ammunition, and no provocation," said Sugeng, repeating Mahfud's message.

Students who are members of the BEM SI alliance plan to hold a demonstration in front of the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday, April 11, as a continuation of the action on March 28, 2022. There are six points of demands that will be submitted by students in the demonstration. One of them is the issue of extending the presidential term and postponing the 2024 election.

In addition, other demands from BEM-SI are urging Jokowi to postpone and review the Law related to the State Capital (UU IKN). Third, urging Jokowi to stabilize prices and maintain the availability of basic commodities in the community.

Then the fourth demand, urging Jokowi to thoroughly investigate the cooking oil mafia and evaluate the performance of the relevant ministers. Fifth, regarding the resolution of agrarian conflicts in Indonesia. Finally, the sixth, urges President Jokowi and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin to fully commit to completing their campaign promises for the remainder of their terms.

President Joko Widodo himself has stated that there will be no postponement of the 2024 election and no extension of the president's term of office. In fact, the President has forbidden his ministers to talk about the postponement and three terms of office.

Therefore, said Sugeng again, IPW reminded that the expression of opinions in public regarding the constitutional rights of students should not interfere with the rights of others and public order.

"Besides, don't let other parties ride it for certain political interests," said Sugeng.

Metro Jaya Police will conduct traffic engineering around the area of the State Palace, Monas, and DPR RI starting at 08.00 western Indonesia time this morning.