Jakarta – The police reiterated once again that they would take very strict actions against demonstrators, if they planned to insult state symbols, Antara reported.

"The moves will also be imposed upon those burning posters or an effigy of the president," said Sr. Comr. Prasetyo, the spokesman of the Jakarta Police, on Thursday. He said that the perpetrators would be charged under article 134 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of six years in jail.

On Wednesday, President Megawati Soekarnoputri said that she could not accept in when people burned or defaced her image or that of Vice President Hamzah Haz. She demanded that the people show respect to all state symbols unconditionally.

During a series of rallies against fuel and utility price hikes, demonstrators burnt and damaged pictures and effigies of Megawati and Hamzah. Several activists of the Democratic People's Party have been arrested and charged with trying to topple the government.

On Tuesday, a 20-year-old Acehnese activist was sentenced to six months in prison for painting a red "X" over a poster of Megawati. Last year, two demonstrators were jailed in Jakarta for stepping on pictures of Megawati and Hamzah during a rally.