Thousands of Prabowo-Hatta Supporters Gathered at Patung Kuda
Reported by Andry | Translated by Rini Elvira
After marching from Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout, thousands of people who support Prabowo-Hatta are gathered around Patung Kuda (Horse Statue), Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Gambir, Central Jakarta, prior to the 2014 presidential election result dispute verdict that will be announced by the Constitutional Court (MK), Thursday (8/21). As time passes, the amount of mass increases and makes the situation, which previously conducive, becomes heating up.
I ask the mass to remain calm. Don’t make a scene. Or else, we’ll disperse you forcibly in accordance to the law
Hundreds of City Police Mobile Brigade officers, who initially stood inside MK building area, had to move forward to Patung Kuda area and form barricade. With them, two water cannon vehicles are began to be operated following jostling actions between the officers and the mass who tried to trespass wire barrier in front of MK building area.
“I ask the mass to remain calm. Don’t make a scene. Or else, we’ll disperse you forcibly in accordance to the law. Honor the officers and demonstrate peacefully. We will continue to escort your action. If there was a riot, we will use water cannon. Don’t get tempted and provoked,” urged Central Jakarta Resort Police Chief Sr. Comr. Hendro Prabowo through loud speaker.
1,500 Police Deployed to Safeguard Vital Objects in E. JakartaMeanwhile, the demonstrators demanded MK judges to win the lawsuit filed by president and vice president candidate number 1, Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa.
“We demand. We don’t take for granted our number one president candidate being cheated. We support Mr. Prabowo and Gerindra (Prabowo’s political party) to step forward as Indonesia President,” stated one of the orators from the top of command car.
Based on beritajakarta.com observations, thousands of fully armed policemen guard the demonstration action. In addition, several anti-riot vehicles are also put on standby. Although had heated up, the situation now begins to calm down after the action involving command cars managed to be controlled.
