Clash over book scandal

Clash over book scandal

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: A skirmish erupted between student
demonstrators and members of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Banser
civilian guards at the Makassar Islamic University compound on
Saturday.

The incident took place during a local launching of a book
titled Menegakkan Kebenaran (Uphold the Truth) published by the
National Awakening Party (PKB) to establish President Abdurrahman
Wahid's innocence in the Bulog and Brunei scandals.

The book launching was held at the Nahdlatul Ulama hall in the
university compound about 11 a.m. local time.

About 50 students, grouped in the Front Mahasiswa Pondokan
Tamalanrea protested the event, describing the book as "a tool to
cover up Gus Dur's mistakes" and urged the President to resign.

About two hours later some 100 Banser members entered the
campus on Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan and pushed away the protesting
students.

The students fled the scene but came back shortly after in
larger numbers, making a clash inevitable.

Riot police, however, quickly dispersed the two warring camps
by firing warning shots into the air.

Two students, Anwar and Alam, were injured in the fray and
later detained by police along with two others named Sahid and
Wahyudin.

The book launching and discussion had to be briefly suspended
but was continued later in the afternoon.

Abdurrachim Assegaf, PKB chairman in Makassar, brushed off the
incident, saying minor clashes are "considered normal due to the
fact that the two groups are emotionally involved and they are in
the process of learning democracy." (27/edt)