Moh. Kadafi – Seven students were secured by Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officials for holding a demonstration opposing the G20 Summit in Bali on Tuesday November 15. The students are understood to be from the Udayana University (Unud) in Bali and held a peaceful action on Jalan Sudirman in the provincial capital of Denpasar.
Bali provincial Satpol PP chief I Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi said that the student held the action by unfurling a banner in Balinese reading, "G20 Ngae Ribet Nak Bali, G20 Bukan Solusi", which means G20 is creating difficulties for the Balinese and is not the solution. There were also the words "Indonesia People's Assembly".
"The peaceful action was conveying an aspiration in public by unfurling a banner. There were seven students (from) the Udayana University", said Dharmadi when contacted on Tuesday.
One student taken to hospital
According to Dharmadi, one of the students was taken to hospital because they had a fever after holding the action in the rain. However they have already been sent home after their identity was recorded and they were given directions not to hold actions in public again.
This is because the action was reported by the local community who did not accept it being held in the name of Bali.
"They've already been sent home, we've recorded their data and given them directions. Meanwhile their action is being conveyed through digital media, don't hold demonstrations in public so it doesn't disturb [public] order. Because it was held on the side of the road", he said.
Dharmadi also mentioned that they had asked for the students' personal data or their ID cards which were recorded because they have to be reported. As a result the G20 summit was not subverted.
"We noted it, we make a report. Because it must be reported, we must be careful that the G20 Summit event is not subverted and also don't let people convey that it's counterproductive in the name of the Balinese people. As far as I know, most Balinese people greatly appreciate the G20 activities. So we got a report from the community, because they objected to the action", he asserted.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Pasang Spanduk Tolak G20 Bali, 7 Mahasiswa Universitas Udayana Ditangkap".]
