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Lawmakers lambasted for encouraging House break-in
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Untouchable target: A television crew's van is parked in front of the main entrance to the House of Representatives complex on Saturday morning, several hours after thousands of protesters tried to break in after joining a large-scale rally. (JP/Safrin La Batu)
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lawmaker has lambasted several of his colleagues for inviting protesters to come into the House of Representatives’ compound following last Friday’s large-scale rally in Jakarta.
Hanura Party’s Rufinus Hotmaulana Hutauruk said such a move had to have the collective approval of lawmakers.
“Is that legal for lawmakers to invite demonstrators to the House compound? Regardless, the rally should have ended by 6 p.m.,” said Rufinus on Monday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
Around 100,000 people from various Muslim organizations swarmed Jakarta streets to demand the criminal prosecution of gubernatorial candidate and incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Thahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy last Friday.
The rally was peaceful until the evening, when many protesters refused to disperse despite the rally having officially ended. The police had given a permit to stage the protest until 6 p.m.
Police used tear gas after several protesters set off firecrackers and ignored calls to leave the area. Meanwhile, police also prevented protesters in other areas from heading toward the State Palace.
Masses of demonstrators later moved to the House compound, which was heavily guarded, as House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon of the Gerindra Party publicly welcomed them to spend the night in the area, saying it was “the house of the people.” Among the lawmakers echoing the call were People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker and National Mandate Party chairman Zulkifli Hasan, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad of Gerindra and Abu Bakar Al-Habsy of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
The crowd, who were caught in a standoff with over 1,000 military and police personnel, finally left early Saturday following a series of negotiations between rally leaders, lawmakers and law enforcement officials.
Lawmakers are currently in recess, with the final sitting session of the year scheduled to start next week. (hwa)
