'Bloody April' incident commemorated<\/p>\n
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Thousands of students took
\nto the streets here yesterday to commemorate a demonstration last
\nyear that left three students dead and 60 injured.<\/p>\n
About 5,000 students from Hasanudin University (Unhas) and the
\nIndonesian Moslem University (UMI) walked peacefully from the UMI
\ncampus to Panaikang cemetery where one of the students is buried.<\/p>\n
They scattered flowers on the ground and said prayers in
\nmemory of fellow students who died in what they call the "bloody
\nApril" incident.<\/p>\n
Carrying banners, they proceeded to Dadi cemetery where
\nanother student is buried.<\/p>\n
The six kilometer procession took place without incident.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, 50 students calling themselves "Makasar's Bloody
\nApril Committee" displayed banners in front of the Kalibata
\nHeroes Cemetery in South Jakarta, watched in heavy rain by some
\n50 security officers equipped with shields and rattan sticks.<\/p>\n
Some of the banners said "Stop the violence", "Stop 'bang bang
\nbang' on campus", and "We don't need bullets".<\/p>\n
The students later released a statement demanding an end to
\nmilitary intervention in civil and academic affairs, and the end
\nto a widespread security approach in the country.<\/p>\n
Three students died in the demonstration on April 24 last
\nyear. They were said to have drowned in the Pampang River, next
\nto the campus, trying to evade security officers. They were
\nSyaiful Bia, Andi Sultan Iskandar, and Tasrif Burhanuddin, all
\nstudents of the UMI.<\/p>\n
The students were part of a two-day demonstration against a
\nplanned increase in public transportation fares. The protest
\nturned into riots when security officers entered the campus, used
\ntear gas and chased students with rattan sticks.<\/p>\n
The military later claimed they were restoring order after the
\nstudents went on a rampage.<\/p>\n
An investigation by the National Commission on Human Rights
\nfound evidence of military violence in the form of blood stains,
\nspent bullets and damaged buildings. There were also reports of
\nbruises on the bodies of the dead students.<\/p>\n
An investigation team established by the Wirabuana regional
\nmilitary command also found evidence of military error.<\/p>\n
Fifteen security officers were later tried by the Ujungpandang
\nmilitary tribunal, and nine sentenced to up to three months and
\n15 days imprisonment. Six were found not guilty of involvement.<\/p>\n
The Ujungpandang commemoration started Wednesday with UMI
\ncampus students burning tires, and Unhas campus students carrying
\na bier around the campus.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of State Islamic Institute students held a Koranic
\nrecital. (05\/37\/31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bloody-april-incident-commemorated-1447893297",
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