Jakarta – The Jakarta city police have shown support for a new gubernatorial regulation that limits demonstrations in the capital city, signed recently by Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok"Tjahaja Purnama.

"We have to support the gubernatorial regulation. The regulation is to back up a law that is already in place," said Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Mohammad Iqbal in Jakarta on Tuesday as reported by tempo.co. He was referring to Law No. 9/1998 on freedom of expression in public places.

"Expressing one's aspirations is allowed as long as people do not violate the gubernatorial regulation, which is supported by all stakeholders," Iqbal added.

Under Gubernatorial Regulation No. 228/2015 on controlling the implementation of freedom of expression in public, demonstrations must be held in one of three locations: the east carpark at Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan; Alun Alun Demokrasi (Democracy Plaza) at the House complex; and Silang Selatan (Southern Cross) at the National Monument. All three areas are located in Central Jakarta.

The regulation also limits the timing of demonstrations to between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Responding to criticism from activists from NGOs, Governor Ahok stressed that the gubernatorial regulation did not violate any article in the country's Constitution. "I am only following the existing law. Who made the law? I was not even in politics at that time," he added.

Last Friday the police started to warn 12,000 workers demonstrating in front of the State Palace to disperse at 6 p.m. The police forcefully dispersed the protesters at about at 7 p.m., including with the use of a water cannon. (bbn).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/11/03/police-back-jakarta-s-regulation-protests.html