Police attack students honoring Trisakti dead<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
A violent clash erupted here on Monday afternoon after police
\nofficers attacked 60 student protesters from Udayana University
\nwho were staging a peaceful protest to commemorate the Trisakti
\nshooting incident in 1998.<\/p>\n
The clash took place at 1:15 p.m. local time at the square in
\nfront of the provincial legislative building.<\/p>\n
The students were just about to lower the Indonesian flag from
\nthe square's flag pole and put it at half-staff -- to honor the
\nfallen Trisakti students -- when dozens of police officers
\nappeared and began beating the students with batons and rattan
\nsticks.<\/p>\n
\"If they want to be reform heroes too, let's give them a
\nchance,\" one police officer yelled angrily.<\/p>\n
Overpowered and outnumbered, the students scattered. At least
\nthree students fell to the ground after being repeatedly struck
\nand kicked by the officers.<\/p>\n
One student, field coordinator Visa Ramadhani, fell to the
\nground after an officer struck him in the stomach with a stick.
\nVisa slumped into a fetal position and lay motionless for quite
\nsome time. Yet he refused to be moved, saying he had to remain
\nwith his fellow protesters.<\/p>\n
Despite their field coordinator being incapacitated, other
\nstudent leaders managed to gather the protesters back. And when
\nthe protesters attempted to take revenge against the officers,
\nthe student leaders calmed them down, reminding them of the
\npurpose of their protest.<\/p>\n
\"Let's not forget that we are here for a peaceful and
\nnonviolent gathering. And let's not forget those students, the
\nTrisakti students, our fallen comrades, who gave their lives for
\nthe noble cause of freedom, democracy and a nonviolent struggle,\"
\none student leader said.<\/p>\n
After presenting their demands that the government seriously
\ninvestigate the Trisakti incident and take the necessary legal
\nsteps to bring those responsible for the shootings to court, the
\nprotesters peacefully left the square.<\/p>\n
The police's reaction was ironic since some 30 minutes
\nearlier, when the same group of students peacefully demonstrated
\nin front of the Bali Police Headquarters, a high-ranking police
\nofficer praised the students for their peaceful conduct.<\/p>\n
\"It is their right to express their opinion through a
\ndemonstration, and I am glad that they can do that in a peaceful
\nway,\" Sr. Comr. Chamgani said.<\/p>\n
Previously, the students also protested in front of the
\nUdayana Military Command.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-attack-students-honoring-trisakti-dead-1447893297",
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