12,000 people to join mass rally in Jakarta

JAKARTA. Police have estimated that more than 12,000 protesters were expected to hold rallies throughout the capital on Friday as lawmakers at the House of Representatives (DPR) would decide on whether or not subsidized fuel prices be increased in a plenary session at 10 a.m.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said the protesters would be concentrated in a number of locations including the DPR complex and the State Palace.

“We hope they will not disturb public order or vandalize public facilities,” Rikwanto said Friday as quoted.

He said a joint force of 22,000 security personnel would be deployed to secure the capital, 14,000 of which were from the police with the remainder coming from the military.(iwa/dmr/The JakartaPost)