Hundreds rally at Malaysian embassy

Hundreds of people from a number of organizations staged a rally at the Malaysian Embassy on Jl. HR Rasuna Said in South Jakarta on Thursday, in the latest protest over a recent incident that saw Indonesian officers arrested by Malaysian authorities in disputed waters off Riau Island.

South Jakarta Police have deployed 180 officers to safeguard the rally that has caused traffic congestion in the area.

Orators were seen shouting protest through loudspeakers, demanding the Malaysian government respect Indonesians.

Earlier, lawmakers have asked the Indonesian government to take firm diplomatic action against Malaysia, from demanding an apology and freezing bilateral ties to exploring possible military options.

In a hearing at the House of Representatives with Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on Wednesday, legislators from both opposition and coalition parties criticized the Foreign Ministry over the handling of the incident.

Marty said the Foreign Ministry had exhausted all diplomatic means to secure the release of the three officers from the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, denouncing claims his office had yielded to pressure from the Malaysian government.