30 injured in Ambon clash

JAKARTA (JP): Thirty people, mostly students, were hospitalized on Wednesday following a clash with security officers, the second violent encounter this week after seven were hurt on Monday during a demonstration.

Antara reported that Wednesday's clash involved thousands of students from Pattimura University, the Maluku Christian University and others. Six of the casualties were members of the riot police and the Army.

A vehicle belonging to a military official, Maj. Robert Riri, was dragged out of his garage by a crowd and set alight.

Beginning on Saturday and continuing on Monday, protesters demanded to meet Pattimura military commander Col. Hikayat. The commander is also a Maluku representative in the People's Consultative Assembly, whose Special Session last week failed to satisfy student demands for reform.

Protesters had demanded Hikayat's accountability for his part in the session. Similar to demands of students in other provinces, they rejected the representation of the military in the House of Representatives, which was reaffirmed in a new decree adopted by the session.

The clash on Monday started during negotiations between students and military personnel at the command headquarters. Some students reportedly fomented unrest by hurling objects, which was met by officers beating them with rattan sticks. The crowd then began throwing stones.

A riot ensued and spread to adjacent streets. Buildings attacked included the new headquarters of the state electricity company PLN and the Planet 2000 discotheque.

Electricity in the town was cut off although there was no clarification if this was due to damage to PLN's facilities. Col. Hikayat said on Wednesday he would investigate the riot; the report did not state if he eventually met the students.

Ambon was quiet late Wednesday and businesses were closed. Public transportation had not begun to operate, the agency said, due to the fear of a renewed use of Molotov cocktails by mobs. (anr)