AMBON - The Ambon Island and Lease Islands Police officers supported by the National Armed Force (TNI) and the Ambon City COVID-19 Task Force forcibly dispersed the action of hundreds of students. The masses demanded the termination of the implementation of Micro-scale Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).
"We have told them not to demonstrate because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We together with the Ambon City Task Force and the National Armed Force and the National Police (TNI-Polri) dispersed the crowd", said Ambon Island Police Chief Kombes Leo SN Simatupang in Ambon, quoted by Antara, Friday, July 16.
Demonstrations against the implementation of the Micro-scale PPKM took place twice, namely before Friday prayers and the police arrested three people who were monitored by the Deputy Chief of City Resort Police (Wakapolresta) Ambon Island Heri Budi.
The action continued after Friday prayers, where hundreds of students from a number of universities in Ambon City conducted a long march from the front of the Al Fatah Grand Mosque in Ambon to the local town hall.
According to the Police Chief, the forced disbandment was carried out because they did not follow the health protocols in an orderly manner. The demonstrators mingled and huddled together (not keeping their distance), so inevitably they had to be disbanded.
"Thank God, the current situation is quite conducive. Most of them have returned and headed to their respective homes, while some people who have been detained are still being recorded at the Ambon City Task Force office for questioning", said the Police Chief.
He said it was not clear what their demands were, but more directed to many things, especially the handling of COVID-19, and asked for Micro-scale PPKM to be stopped.
But once again, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were instructions from the Minister of Home Affairs, followed by instructions from the Mayor of Ambon, including the Law on Quarantine. Therefore, until now, crowd activities have been reduced and it is hoped that the understanding of the whole community will not be repeated again.
"So, as long as the Micro-scale PPKM in Ambon City is tightened, the police have never issued a notification letter for public demonstrations. If there is no extension until July 22, 2021, we will not issue permits. Automatically all activities here do not have official permits, so still dispersed by the security forces", he said.
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During the forced dispersal by the police, there were a few clashes, but they were well secured by the police and the Ambon Police are still recording the number of students who had been arrested, because of the possibility that they were involved in clashes or trying to provoke their colleagues.
"So those who are currently being detained will be questioned at the Ambon City Gustu office regarding the action", said the Head of Police.
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