Rights abuses found in Ujungpandang<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights
\nannounced yesterday that there were rights abuses during the
\nclashes between security officers and students last month in
\nUjungpandang, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Commission deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman said that after
\nfour days of observation and discussion with related parties, the
\nbody found "violations of rights which led to the death of three
\nstudents, scores of injuries, and much vandalism."<\/p>\n
In a press briefing, the commission announced those who died
\nwere Syaiful Bia, Andi Sultan Iskandar and Tasrif Burhanuddin of
\nthe Indonesian Moslem University.<\/p>\n
The students reportedly died because they plunged into the
\nPampang River while trying to evade security officers who had
\nentered their campus during the recent bus fare hike protests .<\/p>\n
Marzuki said the commission would wait until after the
\nmilitary investigation team finished its work before announcing
\n"the perpetrators, the kind and gravity of violations" committed
\nin the incident.<\/p>\n
The commission also called yesterday for "respect for rectors
\nas the sole authority on campuses." The statement was made
\napparently in reference to the military's preliminary findings
\nthat troops forced their way into the campuses despite the
\nobjections of the universities' administrators.<\/p>\n
If security and order measures are called for during in-campus
\ndemonstrations, it's the police, not the army, who should have
\nthe priority to enter the campus, Marzuki pointed out.<\/p>\n
Around 10,000 students of state and private-owned universities
\nand colleges in Ujungpandang took to the streets in a wave of
\ndemonstrations which began on April 22. They were protesting the
\npublic bus fare increase from Rp 300 (US$ 13 cents) to Rp 500.<\/p>\n
The students reportedly went on the rampage during the
\ndemonstrations. They set up roadblocks, vandalized buses and
\nother public property, and pelted riot officers with stones.<\/p>\n
The protests soon turned into clashes when security officers
\nentered the campuses, chasing students with rattan sticks and
\nmaking arrests.<\/p>\n
The regional military command and the leader of its
\ninvestigation team have admitted that some of their members
\n"erred" and resorted to violence.<\/p>\n
"We call on everybody to exercise self-restraint and not to
\nissue provocative statements which may cause public
\ndisintegration," Marzuki said.<\/p>\n
The government has also appealed to all parties, including the
\nuniversity students, to refrain from engaging in any activities
\nthat could disturb peace and order.<\/p>\n
"Demonstrations are not banned, but they should be conducted
\nin an orderly manner," according to Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman.<\/p>\n
Students, however, continued with their protests. In
\nUjungpandang, hundreds of students held yet another demonstration
\nyesterday, this time in a show of solidarity toward their dead
\ncolleagues. In Yogyakarta, Central Java, some 500 students held a
\nsimilar demonstration.<\/p>\n
The students in Ujungpandang called on the Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nto be consistent with a "peace agreement" recently signed by the
\nmilitary, students, universities, religious figures, community
\nleaders and government officials.<\/p>\n
The document states that all breaches of law will be dealt
\nwith legally without use of force, it expresses regrets the
\ndeaths and injuries sustained in the incident, and calls for
\nrestraint from all sides. (20\/swe\/har\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-abuses-found-in-ujungpandang-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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