This humane action is taken because they are also our children, and our family, that must be educated and reminded..Jakarta (ANTARA) - Jakarta Metropolitan Police officers have prevented hundreds of underage students from participating in the workers' protest outside the Parliament Complex in Central Jakarta on Thursday.
According to Senior Commissioner Ade Ary, the local police's Public Relations Bureau chief, the police decided to prevent 120 students from joining the protest for their own safety.
"This humane action is taken because they are also our children, and our family, that must be educated and reminded (about their actions)," Ary said, noting that the operation had begun earlier in the morning.
He explained that police officers intercepted students at several points, including Bekasi, Tangerang, Depok, and areas around Central Jakarta, where the protest was taking place.
Police reported that, after questioning, the students admitted their intention to join the demonstration at the Parliament Complex. Authorities also discovered that several parties had encouraged the minors to attend.
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“We have identified at least three social media channels that incited the students. This was the work of irresponsible parties,” Ary stated.
The senior commissioner reminded the public not to involve underage children in protests or exploit social media to push them toward harmful activities.
During a protest earlier this week, on Monday (August 25), police detained 351 individuals outside the Parliament Complex, including 196 minors and 155 adults.
Ary said the group was not part of the main peaceful demonstration but instead allegedly vandalized public property, hurled objects at passing drivers on the toll road, and attacked officers.
He added that seven of those detained tested positive for illegal drugs: six for methamphetamine and one for a benzodiazepine-related substance. Their cases have since been handed over to the narcotics unit for further investigation.
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Translator: Bagus Ahmad R, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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