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SBY greeted by demos, rain

Source
Jakarta Post - February 10, 2006

Several groups of demonstrators vied Thursday with people lining the streets in Bandung, West Java, to get the attention of visiting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Arriving at the historic Merdeka Building to attend the National Press Day commemorations, the President joked he was happy to be welcomed by rain and demonstrations. Rain indicated prosperity and demonstrations were a good sign of a working democracy, Yudhoyono said.

Student groups that braved the wet weather to protest, demonstrated about a range of issues, including a plan to increase electricity charges and the plight of families living under high-voltage power lines.

A group of former employees of state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia demanded the government intervene in their protracted labor dispute. About 1,000 former employees are contesting their dismissal.

Demonstrators competed for the best spots to get the attention of the President. In the struggle to get closer to Jl. Asia-Afrika, where the Merdeka building is located, five protesters were arrested by police.

"We arrested them because they had staged had protest without notifying us. Also, they violated public order by hampering the movement of the President and his entourage," Bandung Police chief Sr. Comr. Edmon Ilyas said.

A demonstration coordinator, M Sidharta, protested the five's arrest and said: "We staged a peaceful demonstration, but were confronted with harsh measures." Police later released the five after questioning them for five hours. JP/Yuli Tri Suwarni and Riyadi Suparno

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