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Jakarta Post

Police officers banned from bringing firearms to protest

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, October 31, 2016

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Police officers banned from bringing firearms to protest Thousands of people march from the Istiqlal Mosque to City Hall in Central Jakarta on Oct. 14, in protest of a statement made by Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. (JP/Liza Yosephine )

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akarta Police chief. Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan has prohibited police officers from bringing firearms when they guard a rally scheduled to take place on Nov. 4, a police officer has said.

 Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Corm. Awi Sutiyono denied on Monday that Iriawan had issued a “shoot on sight” order with regard to the demonstration set to be held by members of Islamic organizations.

 “There was no such an order. National Police chief [Gen. Tito Karnavian] had prohibited officers from bringing firearms while securing the demonstration,” Awi said as reported by tribunnews.com on Monday.

The police will never prohibit people from demonstrating, but they are called on to abide by the law, he said.

“We escort demonstrations so that they take place peacefully,” said Awi, adding that the organizers of the protest must prevent outsiders, who might have their own agenda, from disrupting the demonstration.

“The Indonesian Military and the National Police will do their best to secure Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia,” Awi said, adding that thousands personnel from the police and the military would be deployed to guard the demonstration.

Thousands of people took part in a demonstration on Oct.14, demanding that the police investigate Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, over allegations of committing religious blasphemy. They will make a similar call during the Nov. 4 protest. (bbn)

 

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