T

he Jakarta Police named six university students as suspects on Thursday for allegedly tearing down a photograph of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

“All six were charged with vandalizing property under the Criminal Code and may face five-and-a-half years’ imprisonment if found guilty,” spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto told reporters.

“[The suspects] were not charged with insulting the President because there is no regulation prohibiting that anymore,” he said.

The suspects were identified as Galih Rakasiwi, M. Maulana, Novento Ade, Yudhi Yudistira, all students at Pasundan University in Bandung, West Java; Achyar Al Rasyid, a student at the Telkom Institute of Technology in Bandung; and Yopta Eka, a student at Budi Pertiwi Economics School in Karawang, West Java.

The students were part of a rally organized by the West Java Students Executive Body (BEM) at the House to protest the government’s plans to raise fuel prices.

The students reportedly also demanded the President to step down.

The vandalism took place at 3 p.m., after students met with House deputy speaker Pramono Anung.

The photo, a 1.5-square-meter image of Yudhoyono, was displayed in the House’s Nusantara III building, along with portraits of the nation’s previous leaders.

Novento said that his peers broke the framed photo to show their disappointment with Yudhoyono’s leadership and the government’s plan to increase fuel prices.

Rikwanto said that no political party reported the students to the police. “The Democratic Party only asked for an investigation.”

The students were apprehended by House’s security guards and were taken to Jakarta Police headquarters soon thereafter.

Around ten of the suspects’ colleagues from the BEM came to police headquarters on Thursday, requesting that officers release their peers from detention.

“They had no intention whatsoever of breaking any law and commit a crime. They are still university students who have to study to obtain their degree,” Januriadi, 22, from Pasundan University, said.

“We hope that the police would be so kind and release our friends today. We promise that the incident won’t be repeated in the future,” he said.

Rikwanto said that the police would consider the request.

“The six suspects clearly violated the law and are liable for criminal charges. Whether they can be released or not, it will be up to the detectives handling their case,” Rikwanto said.