Eleven injured in student-security troops clash

JAKARTA (JP): Seven students and four security troops were injured on Tuesday evening in a clash near the House of Representatives (DPR), when some 3,000 students protested the ongoing debate over the controversial bill on national security.

The demonstrators also demanded that former president Soeharto be tried for allegedly amassing a billion dollar fortune during his 32-year authoritarian rule.

At least four students were arrested and a bus was damaged by police during the hour-long clash between students from Jabotabek Student Community (Forkot) and approximately 400 security troops.

The clash began when students began to throw stones and bamboo sticks at the troops, who had been put on alert to bar the students from approaching the DPR building.

Outnumbered by the students and unable to control the situation, the troop shot three tear gas canisters, forcing the demonstrators to retreat.

Chased by the security troops, many students sought refuge inside residents' houses on Jl. Pejompongan V, Central Jakarta, near the DPR compound. Minutes later, some 100 police officers were deployed in the area to round up the students.

Residents said they were angered and frightened by the disrespectful attitude of the troops, who forced their way into many houses on the street.

The injured students were taken to a clinic in the area. Forkot spokesman Irvan said all seven students suffered minor injuries from the beatings by police.

The demonstrators, who arrived in 25 buses, were blocked at the toll road that leads to the DPR compound. On Tuesday evening, five additional truckloads of troops were called in to ensure security in the area.

Irvan said the students only wanted to reiterate to the public their demands for total reform and that a transitional government be established to achieve that goal.

"We did not have any plans to enter the DPR compound," he added. (04)