Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse Demonstrators

Jakarta (Antara) - Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who staged protests against the government's fuel oil price increase plan outside the House of Representatives (DPR) building here on Monday evening. Demonstrators from various elements of the people were protesting the government's plan to raise subsidized fuel prices which were being deliberated by the House in its plenary. The police also deployed water cannons and barracudas to disperse the demonstrators which included elements such as students and laborers. As a result of the police move, laborer and student demonstrators were forced to retreat to the Slipi direction. Before they were dispersed, Metro Tanah Abang Police Chief Senior Commissioner Syaifullah asked them to dissolve themselves. But demonstrators remained and delivered their orations. They pulled down the gate fence of the DPR compound and threw bottles and stones into security officers. Police forcefully dispersed the protestors because they had exceeded the time limit of their permit at 6pm local time. (*)