19 injured as police clash with students in Bandung

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java

At least 19 people, including a journalist and a police officer, were injured in a violent student demonstration on Wednesday to protest the hike in utility prices, which demonstrators said overburdened the public.

More than 1,500 students from numerous universities and academies were involved in a clash with hundreds of security personnel from the Bandung Police when they attempted to force their way into the West Java legislature compound.

The injured demonstrators, who were rushed to nearby Barromeous Hospital after the clash, tried to break down the compound's gate after they were denied the right to meet with legislators. Second Brig. Budi Manalu and a photojournalist also suffered minor injuries.

The demonstrators dispersed when security personnel fired 50 warning shots into the air and used water cannon on them.

Riot police also hit a photographer from the local Pikiran Rakyat daily and barred cameramen and journalists from covering the demonstration, sparking protests from the daily and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

Justice Party councillor Yudi Widiana Adia and Irfan Anshori of the National Mandate Party (PAN), who tried to negotiate with the demonstrators, were escorted by several police officers back to their offices to prevent demonstrators from following them into the compound.

Andreas, coordinator of the demonstration, said the demonstration turned violent only because the demonstrators were barred from entering the legislative compound, which borders with the governor's office.

"We wanted to stage a peaceful demonstration, but security personnel were arrogant and a clash was inevitable, since riot police used water cannon and sticks to disperse the demonstrators," he said.

Andreas said the demonstration was staged to express students' disbelief that the government was committed to restoring the economy and to improving people's welfare.

"Increasing utility prices was an unpopular government policy. The government has paid no attention to the alarming unemployment rate and the increasing number of poor people," he said.

Yoyo S. Adiredja, chief editor of Pikiran Rakyat, said the daily would sue the local police over the beating of photographer Dudi Sugandi and the damage to the daily's Nicon-F4 camera.

Journalists from TV7, Indosiar and Trans TV stations condemned the police's handling of the demonstration, saying the police acted arrogantly and unprofessionally in carrying out their duties.

Nursyawal, chairman of the local chapter of AJI, also condemned the incident, saying the security authorities stopped the students from expressing their political aspirations and oppressed the media, just as happened during the New Order era.

Bandung Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Irwanto apologize for his personnel's violent actions, saying they were unable to handle the demonstration.