Jafar G. Bua, Palu – The Central Sulawesi Poor People's Forum (Forum Rakyat Miskin Sulawesi Tengah, FRMST) protested the arrest of 13 pro-democracy activist during a recent incident when the offices of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) were damaged. They also demanded that the Sulteng police investigate a number of PDIP Sulteng figures who triggered the destruction.

The demands were presented by activists from FRMST and the Sulteng branch of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) when they held an action in front of the Sulteng police headquarters on Jalan Sam Ratulangi on Monday. As well as protesting the arrest of their comrades, the action which involved some 1000 FRMST and PRD activist also demanded a reduction in prices.

According to Feri Anwar, the chairperson of the Sulteng PRD branch, the damage to the PDIP offices in Sulteng on January 15 was triggered by PDIP officials who held a violent action against one of the demonstrators.

They demanded that the PDIP officials, Muharam Nurdin (the secretary of PDIP Sulteng who is also a member of the Sulteng regional parliament), Safrun Abdullah (deputy speaker of the Sulteng regional parliament) and Burhan Lamangkona (a member of the Donggala parliament) be investigated. They also gave an ultimatum that they should be held for 3 X 24 hours. If not they would mobilize even more people.

In response Sulteng police spokesperson Ricky Wakano explained that they are still carrying out an investigation of the suspects so they cannot be released. And in order to investigate members of the PDIP, the Sulteng and Donggala parliament, the police must obtain permission from the governor first.

Ricky Wakano's statement was greeted by yells of "Reduce prices, overthrow Mega, and free the pro-democracy activists".

[Translated by James Balowski.]