Medan students protest by hanging themselves<\/p>\n
MEDAN (JP): Fourteen students at St. Thomas Catholic
\nUniversity used a novel, albeit very dangerous, way to protest
\nwhat they perceived as the government's sluggish handling of the
\neconomic crisis. They hanged themselves until they passed out.<\/p>\n
If the government \"failed to respond appropriately\", one
\nstudent threatened, he would immolate himself.<\/p>\n
The students hung thick ropes from the third floor of their
\nschool building on Jl. Setiabudi, Tanjungsari, and arranged them
\nin such a way so they hanged from both their torsos and their
\nnecks.<\/p>\n
The students first undertook the dangerous protest on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
On the first day, eleven students were unconscious for four
\nhours after hanging for 10 minutes. They were taken to Elizabeth
\nHospital for treatment.<\/p>\n
One of the students, Anna Saragih, is still in the hospital
\nafter she joined the protest on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Student leader Fransiskus Stars Sitanggang said he had just
\nreceived a letter from students of the engineering school, saying
\nhe would douse himself with gasoline and set it alight if the
\ngovernment did not respond to their demands. He did not give any
\ndeadline.<\/p>\n
Among the students' demands are lower food prices, the
\nabolition of the Armed Forces dual function, the resignation of
\nPresident B.J. Habibie, and national reconciliation.<\/p>\n
Sitanggang said the school management neither objected to nor
\nencouraged the protest.<\/p>\n
Sitanggang said that all students who joined the act were
\naware and willing to accept the risks involved in the protest,
\nincluding the possibility of death if the rope tore or was tied
\ntoo tight.<\/p>\n
Sitanggang, who hanged himself on the first day, said he now
\nhad headaches and was not feeling well.<\/p>\n
Erita Harefa, 19, who hanged herself on Saturday, said she
\nalso had headaches. However, she said, she was not afraid of
\ndeath.<\/p>\n
The St. Thomas students have been involved in various student
\ndemonstrations since early this year. They have also performed
\nhunger strikes and been involved in clashes with the military.
\n(21\/01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/medan-students-protest-by-hanging-themselves-1447893297",
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