Indonesia bans buffaloes from political protests

Indonesian government bans buffaloes from attending street protests after president expressed his hurt at being compared to the animals.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that he was upset by having his picture stuck onto a water buffalo during a protest in Jakarta.

The softly-spoken ex-general took exception at the suggestion he was "big, stupid and slow like a buffalo".



Protesters had brought the animal to one of a series of protests marking the first 100 days of Mr Yudhoyono's rule. "They said that I am like a buffalo – big and stupid and slow in moving," he said.

"That statement is not ethical or moral, and to use a buffalo can violate other regulations, like traffic laws."

State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said a long-standing ban on the beasts at protests would be enforced. "There's a law that's been violated ... which states clearly that protesters should not bring animals, buffaloes," he said.