REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian clarified the accusation that the institution implemented double standard in dealing with demonstrations. The police allegedly became more permissive to the candleight vigils for Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok rather than to Muslims’ rally. 

“In dealing with actions, our principle is to put forward equality before the law. We keep on following the principle that conducting demonstration is a society’s right regulated by the Constitution,” said Tito in Jakarta on Tuesday (May 32). 

Standard rule of demonstration said the time limit for conducting demonstration outside the building was 18.00 pm and inside the building was 22.00 pm. After the reading of verdict for Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a number of supporters lighted the candles and sent bouquets. 

According to Tito, police had used the same standard for candle-light vigils for Ahok and a number of demonstrations held by GNPF MUI. In some candlelight vigils, police tried to dismiss the actions persuasively. They empowered its police women to dismiss the action as many of the protesters were women. 

“We did not force them to dismiss, but we did persuasive effort. When it was not obeyed, we asked them to dismiss forcibly. We considered that many women joined the candlelight vigils for Ahok, so we put our police women to negotiate,” he said. 

Tito said some protests were dismissed well, but some others were dismissed forcibly, among others the ones in Pekanbaru, Jambi, Palembang, and Jakarta. The people were dismissed by using water cannon. The former Jakarta Metro Police head said, National Police also avoid some candlelight vigils, among others in Pangkal Pinang (Bangka Belitung), Pontianak (West Kalimantan and Palu (Central Sulawesi). 

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