39 people hurt during protest against pulp plant

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): At least 39 people were injured and 15 remained in hospital after being hurt during clashes Thursday between soldiers and 2,000 protesters over PT Inti Indorayon Utama (IIU) pulp and paper plant, police said on Friday.

Spokesman for the North Sumatra Police Lt. Col. Amrin Karim told a media conference at his office here that 12 people were still being treated at the Tarutung hospital and the other three at the Balige hospital.

A doctor of the North Tapanuli Regency, M.L.C. Simorangkir, however, claimed on Friday that at least one man died at the Tarutung hospital on Thursday afternoon,

He said that Manuju Manurung, 30, died after being admitted to the hospital following Monday's clash at the IIU plant.

"The body was taken by his family in the afternoon on Thursday to his home in Lumban Kuala, Porsea," Simorangkir told The Jakarta Post by telephone.

Simorangkir, however, did not specify the cause of Manuju's death. He only said that the body had wounds on the waist.

Lt. Col. Amrin denied on Friday that those injured were being treated for bullet wounds.

Kompas daily reported that dozens of locals and students, most from the provincial capital of Medan, were injured. It said 24 of 56 arrested protesters had suffered injuries from rubber bullets as well as clubbing.

Thousands of students and residents protested Thursday in front of the North Tapanuli district police headquarters in Tarutung, 280 kilometers south of Medan.

They were demanding police release 79 people detained Monday during a clash when four people were reportedly shot by rubber bullets as troops dispersed thousands of protesters who rioted at the IIU pulp and paper plant.

In Monday's clash at the IIU plant, 40 kilometers from Tarutung, angry protesters damaged four cars, set 15 company trucks ablaze and vandalized or burned 23 houses and businesses.

IIU is under investigation by the government to determine whether it was causing environmental damage as claimed by the local population. Nearby residents have said the operation had not only depleted forests in the area, causing erosion and a deterioration of the water level in rivers but had also polluted the water with its waste. They also complained of air pollution from the company, which is being audited.

IIU has been the target of protests from locals and environmental watchdogs. It began operation in 1989.

Current investigation has forced the suspension of the plant's operation for three months.

Meanwhile in Semarang, Central Java, dozens of local journalists grouped in the Committee of Journalists Against Violence were unable to maintain their impartiality and protested at the Diponegoro Regional Military headquarters against the alleged military violence during the clash with students on Wednesday. Commander Lt.Col. Soegeng Soeryanto was annoyed and said, "If you want to do something take off your journalists' attire first." At least 54 students were injured during an anti- military protest at the headquarters.

In Bogor, West Java, dozens of students from the Indonesian Moslem Students Action took to the streets protesting the Armed Forces' (ABRI) dual function. They also continued protests at the clashes between security forces and students in Jakarta on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 that claimed 16 lives.

They also demanded former president Soeharto be brought to trial for alleged rights abuses and corruption.

The students sang songs and distributed flowers to passersby. (21/24/har/byg)