About To Join A Demonstration, Dozens Of Teenagers From Outside Jakarta Were Arrested

A number of students arrested by the police (Photo: special)

JAKARTA - The police have again arrested 40 teenagers who were suspected of participating in a demonstration against the ratification of the Omnibus Law on Cipta Kerja.

Polda Metro Jaya Traffic Director Kombes Sambodo Purnomo Yogo said the dozens of teenagers were arrested from several areas, including Palmerah, Pancoran, and around the DPR RI building.

"Since dawn we have arrested approximately 40 children. Including those arrested today, approximately 30 are secured under the flyover," Sambodo told reporters, Thursday, October 8.

Even from the examination, some of them came from outside Jakarta. They came to Jakarta because they felt drawn from messages circulating on social media.

"Some are from Serang, Tangerang, Bogor, Bandung, some are from Jakarta itself. So from outside the city, when they come to Jakarta, the destination is not clear either," said Sambodo.

The reason why dozens of teenagers were arrested, said Sambodo, was to anticipate a riot. Because, it is feared that they will be influenced by calls to create chaos in Jakarta.

"We secured them because they got together with black attributes and had no clear purpose. Instead of messing up, provoking or throwing officers out, we secure it first," he said.

Later, dozens of teenagers will be examined intensively. The police will investigate who invited or ordered them to come to Jakarta.

"The school children have no clear destination but when we checked their cellphones there were invitations for a demonstration. It is feared that anarcho groups who are in some cities always riot," said Sambodo.

Previously it was reported that the police had arrested hundreds of people suspected of being Anarko group. They intend to take part in a demonstration against the ratification of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation.

"There are about 200 or more groups (people) who we suspect are anarcho who are trying to join the demonstration in front of the DPR building," said Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Yusri Yunus to reporters, Wednesday, October 7.

Alleged 200 people who were part of the anarcho group were arrested based on their belongings. Police said they were carrying objects that could trigger a riot.

"There is some evidence that we find from cellphones, as well as from the items he brought, some brought stones, some brought paint," he said.