Arrested students on hunger strike

JAMBI: Four university students held at the provincial police headquarters for their alleged role in the attack and damage of Jambi's gubernatorial office last month have gone on a hunger strike to protest their arrest.

One of the student activists, Yosep Askan from STMIK (management and computer college), was taken to a police hospital after his condition deteriorated.

The other three were identified as Mardiansyah from Bungo Tebo student association and M. Amin Taufik and Muhammadiyah F.H., both from the University of Jambi.

Mawardi, a member of the All-Jambi University Student Senate, said on Thursday his colleagues were apprehended on May 27 as they -- along with hundreds of other students -- staged a rally in front of the office of Governor Abdurrahman Sayoeti.

The students -- who were protesting the administration's lack of attention toward the fate of local residents working as casual workers overseas -- demanded a meeting with Sayoeti, but were blocked by the governor's staff.

After a heated argument, the two parties then pelted stones at each other, which damaged several parts of the governor's office, Antara reported.