Demonstration turns violent, 60 injured
Demonstration turns violent, 60 injured
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The announcement of the Supreme Court verdict on Thursday in the
graft case involving House of Representatives speaker Akbar
Tandjung was marred by violent protests nationwide, with at least
60 protesting students in Jakarta injured in an ugly melee with
riot police.
At least 45 students were taken to state-run Cipto
Mangunkusumo General Hospital while 15 others were sent to Gatot
Subroto Army Hospital, most suffering from severe head injuries,
presumably caused by police batons. At least one student
reportedly had a fractured skull, while several others suffered
broken arms and legs.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Basyir Ahmad Barmawi made
a public apology, but then claimed only 17 students were injured
while 10 police officers were also wounded.
"(The protesters) provoked (the police) to attack them by
hurling stones at the riot police who were just guarding the
event."
The rally initially was peaceful with thousands of students
from 30 student groups in Greater Jakarta and Bandung making
speeches about 200 meters away from the Supreme Court building,
barricaded by perhaps 100 police armed with batons and girded in
riot gear.
The clash erupted at about 3 p.m. when the students were
trying to get closer to the court compound. The officers charged
the students who were kicked and smashed by the batons as well as
some bamboo flag poles which the police managed to seize.
The policemen were also seen hurling drink bottles at the
students, which they had just snatched away from nearby street
vendors.
The students, apparently undeterred, charged back a few hours
later as the justices read out the decision to let Akbar walk.
"We predicted this ... we had never believed the Supreme Court
would be able to uphold the supremacy of law over political
interests," said Ali Abel of the National University.
The students then issued a joint statement condemning the
acquittal and demanded that the five justices be investigated.
Just 50 meters away from the students -- separated by police
and barbed wire -- a large group of Akbar's supporters from the
Golkar security wing (AMPG) and Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR)
cheered the verdict with religious fervor.
Among the crowd, a circle of AMPG commanders, including rock
singer Renny Djayusman, were seen kissing the Court's front
steps.
Meanwhile, in Yogyakarta, several students were also injured
in a clash between the police and Poor Yogyakartans Movement
(FPRMY) as the latter tried to enter the Sheraton Mustika Hotel
compound where politicians Amien Rais, Wiranto and Rahmawati
Sukarnoputri were scheduled to meet.
Separately, the Communication Forum of Yogyakartan Students
(FKMJ) held a rally outside the office of the provincial election
commission, urging them to disqualify Golkar.
In Bandung, hundreds of enraged students swarmed into the
streets, distributing pamphlets and mobilizing the people to rise
up and reject the Court's verdict.
In Semarang, people grouped in the Front for People
Safeguarding the Transition to Democracy (Fortrad) held a long
march in the city, carrying banners that had such things as,
"Supreme Court, please side with Indonesian people".
The protesters also performed some street theater mocking the
judges, while others played the role of politicians donating
"presents" to the judges.
In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, students grouped in the Front
of Democratic Opponents (FOD) and the region's Front of
Indonesian Muslim Students Movement (KAMMI) demanded that Akbar
be imprisoned.
Surabaya branches of KAMMI and the Association of Muslim
Students (HMI), and three other groups joined hands to reject the
acquittal of Akbar. In their act they burned an effigy of Akbar.
Some of them also visited the state radio station RRI for a five-
minute on-air speech.