E. Java students protest against anarchy

E. Java students protest against anarchy

SURABAYA, East Java: Hundreds of students affiliated with the East Java Student Executive Board (BEM) marched on the Surabaya provincial council to demand the immediate revival of a stalled case.

The protesters, who came from a number of universities in the province, carried posters and banners calling for an end to violence and for upholding law in connection with a recent act of thuggery in Malang.

"On March 19, a group claiming to be Banteng Muda Indonesia (BMI) committed violence against students in Malang, and posed a threat to the city's student movement; thus, the culprit must be found," student spokesman Deyis Nilfaryadi said.

Protest coordinator Iksan Tualeka said the police had been too slow in investigating the case, since they were under the influence of the local chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which had close ties with BMI.

Zainuddin, a member of the military/police faction at the provincial legislature, promised to convey the protesters' demands to the relevant authorities. -- Antara