30 injured in Ambon clash<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty people, mostly students, were
\nhospitalized on Wednesday following a clash with security
\nofficers, the second violent encounter this week after seven were
\nhurt on Monday during a demonstration.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that Wednesday's clash involved thousands of
\nstudents from Pattimura University, the Maluku Christian
\nUniversity and others. Six of the casualties were members of the
\nriot police and the Army.<\/p>\n
A vehicle belonging to a military official, Maj. Robert Riri,
\nwas dragged out of his garage by a crowd and set alight.<\/p>\n
Beginning on Saturday and continuing on Monday, protesters
\ndemanded to meet Pattimura military commander Col. Hikayat. The
\ncommander is also a Maluku representative in the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, whose Special Session last week failed to
\nsatisfy student demands for reform.<\/p>\n
Protesters had demanded Hikayat's accountability for his part
\nin the session. Similar to demands of students in other
\nprovinces, they rejected the representation of the military in
\nthe House of Representatives, which was reaffirmed in a new
\ndecree adopted by the session.<\/p>\n
The clash on Monday started during negotiations between
\nstudents and military personnel at the command headquarters. Some
\nstudents reportedly fomented unrest by hurling objects, which was
\nmet by officers beating them with rattan sticks. The crowd then
\nbegan throwing stones.<\/p>\n
A riot ensued and spread to adjacent streets. Buildings
\nattacked included the new headquarters of the state electricity
\ncompany PLN and the Planet 2000 discotheque.<\/p>\n
Electricity in the town was cut off although there was no
\nclarification if this was due to damage to PLN's facilities. Col.
\nHikayat said on Wednesday he would investigate the riot; the
\nreport did not state if he eventually met the students.<\/p>\n
Ambon was quiet late Wednesday and businesses were closed.
\nPublic transportation had not begun to operate, the agency said,
\ndue to the fear of a renewed use of Molotov cocktails by mobs.
\n(anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/30-injured-in-ambon-clash-1447893297",
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