Classes halted at university

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Classes have been suspended at Cendrawasih University here due to heightened tension between students and security personnel over the recent shooting of two students during a free speech forum.

"Pending the improvement of (campus) security, all lecture activities have been suspended since July 6," rector of the state university, Frans A. Wospakrik, confirmed yesterday.

Law student Steven Suripatty and junior high school student Corina Onim were shot during a clash that broke out after students pelted security personnel with stones during the free speech forum.

Suripatty was shot in the head and is still in intensive medical care. Onim was shot in her right knee.

Wospakrik called on students to support efforts by the security apparatus to investigate the shooting incident and asked student leaders to monitor "uncalled-for actions" on the part of students.

The university's administrative activities will run as usual, he was quoted by Antara as saying.