Students protest Megawati's visit<\/p>\n
PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: About 1,000 university students
\nclashed with security forces on Monday when they protested
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to the city.<\/p>\n
Seven students were injured and 15 others were arrested for
\ndisturbing public order, while a truck carrying students was
\ndamaged in the clash.<\/p>\n
The injured students were taken to the nearby Plaju
\nMuhammadiyah Hospital, while several students and lawyers from
\nthe Palembang Legal Aid Foundation negotiated with the police for
\nthe release of the arrested students.<\/p>\n
The clash began when the students marched from the
\nMuhammadiyah University campus to the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II
\nMosque, which was about to be inaugurated by Megawati. The mosque
\nrenovation cost Rp 34 billion (US$4.15 million).<\/p>\n
But the students were blocked by the police on their way to
\nthe mosque, as the officers said that the students had not
\nobtained permission to stage a protest.<\/p>\n
The inauguration ceremony was not disrupted by the clash, and
\nconcluded successfully. -- Antara<\/p>\n
'Staff dismissal not related to PPP'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah denied
\non Monday an allegation that he had decided to dismiss nine key
\naides because they had failed to help him procure top post at the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
The ministry's organizational restructuring was the only
\nmotive behind the dismissal, he said, and did not involve
\npersonal affairs.<\/p>\n
The minister suddenly expelled four of his five advisors and
\nalso discharged five expert staff on Thursday without any notice.<\/p>\n
The dismissals came only several days after the PPP concluded
\nits national meeting that saw the reelection of Hamzah Haz as
\nparty chairman.<\/p>\n
Bachtiar was Hamzah's sole contender for the PPP chairmanship.<\/p>\n
The four dismissed advisors were Usman Paloh, Kemal Rumawi,
\nSyaiful Masykur and Masrur Jafas. Another advisor, Sigit
\nHariowibisono, survived the mass dismissal.<\/p>\n
The five dismissed expert staff were Akip Masri Muchtar, Irgan
\nChairul Mahfiz, Mahmud Rakasima, Wall Paragoan and Fauzi Yusuf
\nHasibuan, although Irgan and Akip were reinstated later.<\/p>\n
Mahmud said he would take legal recourse against the
\ndismissal, as it was an authoritarian measure and was forcibly
\nmade without any prior notice. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-protest-megawatis-visit-1447893297",
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