8,000 Military Personel Help Police Pacify Demonstration

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Jakarta Metropolitan police had requested the Defense Forces (TNI) to deploy around 8,000 personnel to help pacify demonstrators at the vital objects, the Jakarta police spokesman said.

"The military personnel will not directly deal with the public (demonstrators), they will just stand guard surrounding the vital objects," head of Jakarta Metropolitan police public relations division, senior commissioner Rikwanto said here on Monday.      

According to him, the Jakarta Metropolitan police will deploy 22,000 personnel including 8,000 military personnel who will be placed at the vital objects such as sea-ports, airports and toll roads.

The Jakarta Metropolitan police received information that around 8,000 people are expected to demonstrate against the imminent fuel price hike on March 27.

The demonstrators, he said, will protest in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi especially at Hotel Indonesia round-about, the presidential palace and at the House of Representatives/the People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) building.(IGT)