REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Central Board of the Indonesian Muslim Student Action Union (KAMMI) regretted the arrest of the presidents of the student by the police. It happened in a rally on Tuesday afternoon. "It has harmed democracy in Indonesia," Chairperson of KAMMI, Kartika Nur Rakhman.

According to Kartika, the police were represive to the students. A number of presidents of the student were arrested and carried to the Jakarta Metro Police headquarters. "Police officers beat and they took the presidents of the student by force, meanwhile others were transported to the Police headquarters and abandoned."

KAMMI staged the demonstration demanding President Joko Widodo to dismiss Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok). They believed the reactivation of Ahok status as Jakarta governor has violated the law. 

Kartika said the police reaction to the rally showing that the reformation has been betrayed. "We're back to the past, where the right to express aspirations met with repressive treatments from the apparatus. This country is stepping backward and they betrayed reform in order to protect Ahok," said Kartika in a statement received by Republika.co.id on Tuesday.

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