39 people hurt during protest against pulp plant

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)