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Jakarta police get go-ahead to shoot rioters

Source
Straits Times - June 9, 2000

Jakarta – Authorities in Jakarta have given the go-ahead for police to shoot rioters if other attempts to control them fail, according to reports published here yesterday.

The decision was reached at a meeting between administration leaders, the military, police and civic leaders at the Jakarta governor's office on Wednesday, the Warta Kota daily reported.

"One of the conclusions of the meeting is that we agreed to give a legal and political umbrella to the security personnel so that they do not hesitate in taking action," Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso said.

He said soldiers and police were under a "psychological burden", afraid to act firmly against law violators, including rioters, for fear of being accused of human rights violations.

"We will use bullets to shoot looters in the leg if we cannot control them by other means," the chief of the police force's operational command, Colonel Nono Supriyono, was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying. Mr Sutiyoso said shooting would only be directed against rioters resisting orders from the security forces and those attacking with fuel bombs.

Fuel bombs have been used increasingly by protesters and rioters in recent cases of unrest and demonstrations, resulting in casualties among security personnel and damage to property.

The meeting was held to discuss ways of securing the capital during the general convention of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the country's highest legislative body, in August. The measure was taken in anticipation of possible outbreaks of violence during the convention, Col Supriyono said.

Meanwhile, police used tear gas and traded blows with a small group of anti-government student protesters near Jakarta's presidential palace yesterday.

About 50 demonstrators from a group calling itself the Universal Front of Indonesia had demanded that the entire Cabinet of President be dismissed for failing to fix the nation's economic and social problems.

Witnesses said several protesters were arrested. During the melee, lasting only five minutes, police officers assaulted Associated Press photographer Eugene Hoshiko.

In another protest, about 100 students damaged the main gates of the attorney-general's office and demanded that former President Suharto be placed on trial immediately for corruption.

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