"For sure, this has to be anticipated, because if not, it would have affected the participants of the Dec 2 rally, because the mass would have been herded to the Parliament," Inspect General Boy Rafli Amar, spokesman of the National Police, said here on Saturday.
The police made 11 arrests in order to prevent a chaos that could have been provoked amid such a large crowd, he said.
The 11 people detained early on Friday included retired military high ranking officer Kivlan Zein, Adityawarman, political activist Ratna Sarumpaet, Firza Husein, Eko, Alvin, daughter of former president Soekarno - Rachmawati, famous musician Ahmad Dhani, politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Jamran and Rizal.
Seven of them, including Kivlan Zein, Adityawarman, Ratna Sarumpaet, Firza Husein, Eko, Alvin and Rachmawati, were released after questioning for 24 hours.
However, they have been named suspects for treason.
Ahmad Dhani was also released after being named a suspect for defaming the head of state.
Meanwhile, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Jamran and Rizal are still being detained and charged under the information technology law.
"We did not want to see any interference in the good intention of ulemas (Islamic scholars) who came for prayers in the Monas (National Monument). So, we had made prevention efforts. The point of the legal enforcement was to prevent (any ill intention)," Amar said.
The treason suspects allegedly intended to persuade the crowd to occupy the Parliament building and force the Peoples Consultative Assembly to call for a special assembly for a government change.
There was no official number on the audience participating in the Dec 2 (212) mass prayers in the downtown of Jakarta, but it was estimated to reach more than 2 million. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
