Eight injured, 2 cars burned in UKI clash

JAKARTA (JP): At least six students and two police officers were injured during a clash between protesting students and troops in Cawang, East Jakarta, on Tuesday afternoon.

Two flatbed trucks, reportedly from the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) and Mobile Brigade police, were set ablaze during the violence.

Four students who sustained minor injuries were released from UKI Hospital in the evening. Two others remain hospitalized.

They were identified as Parlindungan, 20, from the university's economics school, who suffered contusions on various parts of his body, and Enda Mukhlis, 17, a student from STM Gautama high school, who suffered a rubber bullet wound to his left leg.

The incident erupted at about 2:30 p.m. on busy Jl. Mayjen Sutoyo in front of the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) campus when students began hurling stones at military and police officers who were blocking them from marching to the House of Representatives (DPR).

According to Boni Aritona, head of the student board of the economics school, about 700 students from the university intended to march to the House to protest the draft bill on state security when soldiers, police and civilian militia (KAMRA) arrived.

"I don't understand why the soldiers stopped us, they usually don't," Boni said.

The clash erupted after negotiations with security personnel failed, Boni said.

Security personnel fired tear gas and rubber bullets as they chased students who retreated to the university campus.

The police arrested Parlindungan and took him to the Jatinegara Police station.

Boni said he and several other students rushed to the police station to pick up their friend.

"Police officers told me that they're willing to pay Parlindungan's medical bills," Boni said.

Several student rallies were held at different spots across the city on Tuesday, leading to traffic congestion in the areas.

Most of the rallies protested the bill on state security, which critics denounce as draconian. It is expected to be approved by legislators next week. (03)