1STLEAD: Olympic torch relay kicks off, pro-Tibet protest in Jakarta

Apr 22, 2008, 8:06 GMT

Jakarta - The Beijing Olympic torch relay kicked off Tuesday in Indonesia's capital Jakarta under heavy security as dozens of activists staged a pro-Tibet rally outside the city's main sports stadium.

The relay was originally planned to pass through large stretches of bustling city, but due to security concerns the route was cut short around the Bung Karno Sports Complex in central Jakarta, organizers said.

Some 80 torch bearers - including officials, athletes and artists - were lined up to take turns carrying the flame along a 7-kilometre route inside the sports stadium complex.

Members of the public will be barred from directly watching the relay, and only about 5,000 invited guests, including Indonesian and Chinese students would witness the relay.

Around 3,000 security personnel - comprises of police and military officers - backed by an armored car and police dogs, were deployed in and around the area, to secure the torch relay.

'Nobody can enter the area - sports stadium - without an official invitation,' said Sumohadi Marsis, head of the Olympic torch organizing committee.

Police dispersed about 150 anti-China protestors and detained eight activists, including one Dutch national, as well as seizing flags of pro-Tibet activists during a rally outside the stadium, witnesses said.

But police allowed dozens of other protestors to rally at the gate of the main sports stadium. After a brief questioning, all of the locals were released while the Dutchman was still being questioned.

The protesters carrying banners reading: 'No human rights, no Olympics,' while some wore white T-shirts saying 'Free TIbet.'

The torch, which was kept at the Shangri-La Hotel in central Jakarta since arrived in Jakarta shortly after midnight Monday from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Rita Subowo, chairwoman of Indonesia's sports committee, told a press conference on Monday that initially, the organizers would give people the chance to see the torch relay, but after some protests in other countries the committee decided to change the route at Beijing's request.

Subowo urged against mixing sports with politics, race or creed, and expressed the hope that the 'Chinese will be able to resolve their own internal problems.'

A group of about 100 elementary school students expressed disappointment after they were turned down their entry by security authorities after failing to show official invitation.

Anti-China groups, including Falungong, free-Tibet groups and Greenpeace, planned to stage protests in conjunction with the torch relay, activist leaders said.

The chosen torch bearers include Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lan Linjun and badminton world champion Taufik Hidayat.

Protests dogged the torch relay during its stops in Paris, London and San Francisco, with demonstrations over China's crackdown on anti-government protesters in Tibet.