Students condemn brutality<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Students lodged a complaint concerning the
\nexcessive use of force by security personnel at a demonstration
\non Jl. Proklamasi in Central Jakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Carrying a banner which read "Stop Military Violence", the 50
\nstudents grouped under the Collective Forum (Forbes), visited the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights on Monday to request a
\nthorough investigation of the incident.<\/p>\n
"Our friends were beaten and kicked and some of them were even
\nstabbed by soldiers. The soldiers also destroyed windows at the
\nABA-ABI Foreign Language and Banking College," student spokesman
\nChoki said.<\/p>\n
The soldiers pursued the demonstrators, who thought they would
\nbe safe on campus, he said.<\/p>\n
"They also beat our friends in the musholla and smashed its
\nwindows."<\/p>\n
Students eating in the canteen were also beaten by soldiers,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Rizal, another student, said the students threw stones at the
\nsoldiers after they were provoked by security officers, who
\nkicked and beat their friends at about 3 p.m.<\/p>\n
"The soldiers beat us when we were still negotiating with them
\nat the rally. They continued (their brutality) as they pursued us
\nonto the campus."<\/p>\n
According to Choki, 31 students were arrested on Thursday, but
\n17 of them were released on Friday, after the Central Jakarta
\nDistrict Court fined them Rp 2,000 (22 US cents) each for
\nparticipating in the illegal demonstration.<\/p>\n
He said the students demanded the release of 11 students
\ndetained at city police headquarters.<\/p>\n
Nine of the 11 students were charged with violating Article
\n170 of the Criminal Code on vandalism, while the remaining two
\nstudents were charged with violating Article 160 of the Criminal
\nCode on slandering government officials.<\/p>\n
The articles carry maximum sentences of jail terms of five and
\na half years and six years respectively.<\/p>\n
Commission member Benyamin Mangkoedilaga promised to
\ninvestigate the case.<\/p>\n
"We will send a letter to the Jakarta Military Commander
\nconcerning the matter."<\/p>\n
He said that, as a former judge, he was ready to provide legal
\nadvice to student lawyers if the case was brought to court.<\/p>\n
Dozens of students, three photographers and one journalist
\nwere injured in the violent clash between protesting students and
\nsecurity personnel.<\/p>\n
The journalists beaten by security personnel included reporter
\nToto Irianto from Pos Kota daily, Jawa Pos daily's photographer
\nAgus Wahyudi and Detak tabloid's photographer Rusman. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-condemn-brutality-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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