Police Secure 155 People Who Want To Join Action In 1812, Some Bring Marijuana

Police chase away the 1812 protest in the Horse Statue area of Jakarta, Friday 18 December (Diah Ayu / VOI)

JAKARTA - The police have arrested 155 people who were about to leave for the action and those who arrived at the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area to stage the 1812 demonstration.

"Based on the latest data, we have secured 155 people. As many as 20 people were secured at Battalion 201. The rest are at the Polres and at Polda Metro Jaya," said Head of Public Relations at Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Yusri Yunus in the National Monument area, Central Jakarta. , Friday, December 18th.

Yusri said that these 155 masses were suspected to be provocateurs who would turn the action into chaos. In fact, one of the people arrested was caught carrying marijuana.

"Of the 155 we secured, someone was found carrying marijuana. We found him in the Depok area," said Yusri.

Yusri said, 155 people who were secured would undergo a rapid test to screen for both reactive and non-reactive COVID-19. In addition, the detained masses will be examined for potential violations of the health protocol or other suspected criminal acts.

Yusri emphasized that the police had actually prohibited the FPI and the NKRI Children from holding demonstrations by not issuing permission from the crowd before the action took place.

"The children of the Republic of Indonesia, including FPI, have indeed informed the Polda Metro Jaya. From yesterday we have said that we have not given permission. During the COVID-19 pandemic, transmission in Jakarta is quite high," said Yusri.

Because of that, when the 1812 protesters arrived at the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area, the police immediately dispersed them by beating the crowd towards Gambir and Tanah Abang.

The police even confiscated a command car bearing the FPI logo. The masses who had been in the command car were also asked to disperse.

"We hope they can understand that there should be no crowd activities," said Yusri.