19 injured as police clash with students in Bandung

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.