By: Abdul Rozak) *
Demonstration is certainly not something wrong, through a demonstration the people’s aspirations will be conveyed, but that does not mean the demonstration will lead to chaos, it will certainly harm many parties. Student demonstrations or demonstrations at the Senayan DPR, Jakarta on 24 and 25 September 2019 ended in chaos, security forces were forced to drive them away using water canons and tear gas fire.
The action for the cancellation and ratification of a number of these laws subsided around Palmerah Station at 02.00. WIB But the action turned out to have quite a serious impact on public activities, where a number of public transport routes for special lanes were diverted because the road access was blocked by a Student Demo. One of them is because of the route that crosses in front of the DPR / MPR building on Jalan Gatot Subroto. Even the next morning, several Transjakarta bus stops were not operating.
Bus stops that are still closed are Senayan JCC and Slipi Petamburan. In this corridor 9, Transjakarta with the direction of Pinang Ranti Pluit does not pass through the Senayan JCC stop in the direction of Pluit and Slipi Petamburan stop in the direction of Pinang Ranti. The demonstration that led to chaos also turned out to have an impact on damage to public facilities to the closure of the toll road.
Throughout Tuesday, September 24, 2019, the toll road in our lane Grogol to Cawang and vice versa was closed. This closure was due to student demonstrations in front of the capitol building spilling over into the freeway access. It was noted that the toll road could only be passed again the next day at 04.00 WIB.
In addition to blocking the road, Demo participants also damaged toll gates in Senayan and Pejompongan. However, the damage was immediately repaired and could be used again at 06.00. Indeed there is no prohibition on demonstrations in Indonesia, but it is appropriate for students to demonstrate to damage the existing facilities, even though what they claim is the connection of the tongue of the people, but how could the community want damage.
The demonstrators also caused a number of damage to security facilities. The entrance fence of the Senayan DPR / MPR building was damaged and motorbikes parked in several locations were damaged and burned. There are 2 police posts that become monthly months, namely the police station near Palmerah station on Jalan Pelajar and the Police Station on Jalan Pemuda Senayan Gate that were burnt down by demonstrators. In addition, 1 bus belonging to the 202 Mechanical Infantry Battalion on Jalan Tembak Field in Senayan was also burned.
In addition, there is one unit in the Senayan Shoot Field parking area
Jeep Robicon also looks scorched. Next a unit of tactical vehicle controlled by the mass was damaged, the windshield looked broken. Some motorbikes near Palmerah Station only have skeletons because they were burned. In the evening at around 21:30, a mass control team from the Jakarta Police succeeded in repelling the protesters. The mass of demonstrators pushed over Palmerah Station, when there was a call to retreat through the loudspeakers of the police.
Appeals for students to retreat then colored by the action of throwing stones and bottles filled with water from the direction of the student mass. A moment later, the shot was returned with tear gas shots. Bursts of tear gas that emit smoke managed to make students messy. Even bursts of tear gas also penetrated the Palmerah station, some passengers who waited for the train on the station platform also panicked because their eyes suddenly became sore and some people claimed that it was difficult to breathe.
The chaos of the demonstration also caused the train departure schedule to be delayed a few minutes. The station security guards also helped those who suddenly fainted. The mass of students actually left around Palmerah around 02.00. The police noted, as a result of the riots 39 police officers suffered injuries to broken bones, some were hit by stones and arrows, currently they are receiving medical treatment at the hospital.
The demonstration not only harmed the security forces and participants, but the people who were not involved in the action also suffered losses, because their affairs were hampered. If many people have been injured, who will be responsible? Students must not take their hands off.
) * The writer is a teacher at the Vocational High School in Jakarta