BEM-UI reported for torture

JAKARTA (JP): A student of the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) went to the City Police headquarters on Monday to report his abduction and torture allegedly committed by activists of the Student Executive Body of the University of Indonesia (BEM-UI).

Accompanied by lawyers from the Student Movement Avocation Team (TAKWA), the student, Leon Poltak Simanjuntak, said he was kidnapped following a mass brawl on Wednesday.

He said he was taken hostage by dozens of students wearing yellow jackets when he was sitting at a food stall in front of the intensive care unit of the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital on Jl. Salemba, Central Jakarta at about 3 p.m.

"They suddenly approached me, called me a provocateur and beat me up," Leon, who arrived at the City Police headquarters on an ambulance, said.

The law school student rejected a statement by BEM-UI spokesman Suphan in a newspaper and a radio station saying that Leon was saved by BEM-UI.

The victim said he was taken to the UI campus and was again beaten by the students in a room in the campus after robbing him of his cellular phone, cash and identity card.

Dozens of Leon's friends staged a rally in front of the police headquarters, demanding a thorough probe into the case. (jun)