TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The president's spokesman Fadjroel Rachman said that the police are executing their chief's notice on how to deal with people who insist on gathering in crowds. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Fadjroel said, this type of action is necessary.

"As per Thursday, March 26, the police have conducted 1,731 disbandment of crowding and gatherings," Fadjroel said in a written statement Tempo receive don Friday, March 27.

Fadjroel said that the gatherings in question include social, religious, cultural activities in the form of seminars, workshops, and the likes. Indonesia is also forbidding all crowd-gathering activities such as sporting events, music concerts, arts, entertainment, demonstration and protests, carnivals, and similar events.

Fadjroel said the police are allowed to take firm actions on gathering crowds. "So far, they are still taking a democratic approach through dialogues and appeals," he said.

He asserted that public participation is an important key to make social distancing a success factor in combating Covid-19, to break the chain of transmission.

So far, he said, most of the public have been obedient and are aware of the importance of social distancing. However, there are many who still don’t get it; insisting on living their lives normally.

On March 19, the national chief of police, Gen. Idham Azis, issued the National Police's Notice on Public Compliance with Government Policies in Containing Coronavirus Spread.

"Institutionally, in a democratic country, the system that was built in the context of crisis management has the authority to discipline the people or create decisive actions for the sake of public interests and common good," he said.

Fadjroel said President Joko Widodo wants the Coronavirus response system implemented by the Covid-19 Task Force to work quickly and accurately. In addition, health safety and socio-economic power must be prioritized.

"This is because the People's Safety is the Highest Law (Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto)," he said.

Egi Adyatama