Fadli, Batam – Unhappy with the thought that hundreds of activists from 40 countries might flock Batam Island to attend an international forum has made Riau Islands Police think twice about issuing a permit for the event.
Ramches Merdeka from the NGO Children's Protection Forum said Wednesday that some 700 activists from 74 NGOs had confirmed their participation in the forum, titled International People's Forum against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), in Batam's haj dormitory from Sept. 12 to 18.
The forum is set to be held concurrently with the international financial institutions' conference in Singapore, which has banned the activists' planned protests.
Riau Islands Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Anggaria Lopis told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the police would not issue a permit for the event to be held on the island.
He said the decision was made following a meeting Monday between his office's directorate of intelligence and security with representatives of the Jakarta-based International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (Infid), Dian Kartika Sari and Donatus.
"It's not true they are permitted to hold the forum in Batam. The forum is of no benefit to us in Batam," Anggaria said. The police, he said, feared the forum, which will include protests, would disrupt law and order.
"If the foreign NGOs insist on coming to Batam, we'll close the forum," Anggaria said, denying the decision was made based on pressure from the government or Singapore.
The 1998 Law on Freedom of Expression allows people to express themselves through protests, parades, public meetings and speeches in public spaces. Organizers are required to inform the police in writing at least three days before the event.
Ramches he said as one of the local organizers his group would continue preparations, adding that the police had not mentioned anything about prohibiting the forum in the Monday meeting between Infid and the police.
The provincial police, he said, only suggested that Infid coordinate with the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta.
"If they (the police) do it, Indonesia will revert back to the time under former president Soeharto," he said. "Based on information from our colleagues, the National Police Headquarters has given a verbal go-ahead for the forum. And the Foreign Ministry has no objection as long as the protests don't target Singapore."
Singapore expects over 16,000 delegates and officials for the Sept. 11-20 World Bank/IMF meeting but has said outdoor protests are banned.
Antiglobalization activists usually gather at similar international summits but Singapore will make no exceptions to its ban on demonstrations and has said it will arrest lawbreakers and cane vandals.