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Police call for no rallies during Asia-Africa Conference
The West Java Police have urged the public to participate in securing a series of events during the 60th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung and refrain from holding rallies, especially around the peak of the event on April 24, 2015
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T
he West Java Police have urged the public to participate in securing a series of events during the 60th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung and refrain from holding rallies, especially around the peak of the event on April 24, 2015.
Provincial police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan urged every police force chief in the region to make sure their territories were free of demonstrations, especially by the Falun Dafa ' also known as Falun Gong ' community in Indonesia, a day prior to and a day after the event.
'The police will not issue rally permits on those days. We appreciate the aspirations, but we will secure the situation,' Iriawan told police personnel during a roll call at Gasibu Square in Bandung on Tuesday.
He added that the police would disperse rallies carried out from April 23 to 25, aggressively if necessary, should community groups remain steadfast in expressing their aspirations.
'A representative from the Chinese government has requested that there should be no action from the Falun Gong,' Iriawan said to the personnel.
Iriawan has also assigned officers from territories around Bandung to anticipate the possibility of rallies being held during the conference anniversary.
'There are also security issues on terrorism and the Free Papua Movement,' said Iriawan.
Separately, Indonesia Falun Dafa Society representative Gatot Machali expressed concern about the restriction of freedom of expression.
'Why should Indonesia bow down to pressure and intervention from China? We will express our right to freedom of expression just by unfurling banners,' said Gatot, adding that the planned rally was a form of international support so the Chinese Communist Party would stop violent action against Falun Gong followers in China.
'Indonesia should not acquire the image of supporting a regime that resorts to oppression, or genocide against hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong followers in China,' said Gatot.
Wahyu Nandang, from the Indonesian Legal Aid Institution's Advocacy Division, said the police call stifled the right to freedom of expression, regulated in the 1945 State Constitution, Law No. 39/1999 on basic human rights and Law No. 9/1948 on freedom of expression in public.
'The government ' in this matter the police ' should provide a guarantee and protection for Indonesian citizens in using their right of freedom of expression,' Nandang pointed out.
Falun Gong, an ancient practice for mind and body, originating in prehistoric China, has been banned in the country since 1999 for carrying out 'illegal activities'.
The practice was initially tolerated in China, but was banned after 10,000 practitioners staged a protest outside the central government's leadership compound in Beijing.
