Indonesia’s election riots are under control – and one man is taking credit
- Tito Karnavian is winning praise for the police force’s restraint in dealing with ‘unprecedented provocation’ during Tuesday night’s unrest
- Officers and the military went in without a single live bullet amid violence and arson rocking the capital
Indonesia’s security forces have won praise for the restraint shown in dealing with Tuesday’s post-election riot, and one man in particular is receiving credit – Tito Karnavian.
The country’s police chief has a reputation as an elite strategist – a quality on full display as his officers geared up for the unrest in Jakarta after the result of Indonesia’s presidential poll was announced.
Tito and the nation’s military chief decided not to arm security personnel with live bullets, so that if provocateurs in the crowd caused the death of any protester, official forces would not be erroneously blamed.
A senior security source told the Post Tito’s decision was based on intelligence that had indicated rogue elements among the demonstrators planned to shoot innocent people.
Tito and Indonesian security minister Wiranto held a joint press conference on Wednesday, just hours after violence and arson took hold of the capital. They said dozens of protesters had been arrested and police had established the riots were premeditated.