Jakarta, Aug. 19 -- Jakarta police on Wednesday announced the release of 21 people detained near a protest site after finding them carrying firecrackers, flares and six bottles allegedly prepared as containers for Molotov cocktails.

Jakarta Police Spokesman Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto said the 21 were released after the force's law-enforcement task force provided preventive education.

"The 21 people have been released," Budi said, adding that authorities view repressive law enforcement as a last resort.

Intensive questioning found the 21 were neither university students nor registered protesters. They had gone to the site after hearing about the demonstration, intending to join if unrest erupted.

"They intended to join if public...