Students clash with police over beating<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of students from STM PGRI VII technical
\nhigh school in Central Jakarta clashed with riot police on
\nWednesday after one of their peers was beaten by the officers.<\/p>\n
After successfully driving the police out of the privately run
\nschool on Jl. Salemba Raya, the students locked the compound's
\nfront gate and pelted the officers with stones, bricks and broken
\nglass.<\/p>\n
Several passersby were also hit in the fray, which flared up
\nfrom a long-standing dispute between students and local
\nresidents.<\/p>\n
The students barred entry to the compound as they continued to
\nassail the officers with debris.<\/p>\n
The heated situation continued for two hours until an
\nunidentified uniformed navy lieutenant colonel met the students
\nand persuaded them to desist.<\/p>\n
Students demanded the riot police officers apologize to them
\nand immediately leave the scene.<\/p>\n
The officer replied: \"I am a brother (officer) of the police
\nforce and, on behalf of them, I apologize.\"<\/p>\n
As the police withdrew from the area, the students kept their
\nword and dispersed peacefully.<\/p>\n
According to local Senen police subprecinct chief Capt.
\nMoelyono S., the students were initially involved in a street
\nbrawl with residents of Kampung Kenari, located across from their
\nschool, in the continuation of a prolonged dispute.<\/p>\n
\"Brawls in this area are an old story. And we've had enough of
\nthem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Students were incensed when they saw one of their peers caught
\nand beaten by the officers with a rattan stick.<\/p>\n
The police had been guarding the nearby University of
\nIndonesia campus. A gathering of hundreds of alumni was held on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
One of the school's teachers, Loksa Aritonang, said: \"I've
\nshouted and asked the police not to use violence in handling my
\nstudents.\"<\/p>\n
Passersby and motorists watched the unfolding incident as the
\nstudents remained inside their compound and listened to their
\nfriends' spontaneous speeches. A traffic snarl developed in the
\narea.<\/p>\n
\"The police have violated our human rights. They treat us like
\ndogs,\" one student said. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-clash-with-police-over-beating-1447893297",
"image": ""
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