Four anti-Soeharto protesters injured

Four anti-Soeharto protesters injured

JAKARTA (JP): At least four of the approximately 50 students
staging an anti-Soeharto rally on Jl. Cendana in Central Jakarta
on Tuesday were injured after hundreds of supporters of the
former president attacked them.

The students, from the Student Action for Reform and Democracy
Front (Famred), were waving banners, one of which demanded
Soeharto be put in jail immediately, during the afternoon rally
when hundreds of people dressed in black arrived at the area near
the private residence of the former president.

The Soeharto supporters said they were from the Democracy
Action Study Forum and the Alliance of Democracy and Youth
Action.

The new arrivals, carrying sticks and national flags,
immediately attacked the students from Famred, sparking a clash
between the two groups. Outnumbered, the Famred members were
forced to flee.

Dozens of police officers stationed in the area failed to take
action to stop the brawl, which left four students from Famred
injured.

The rally on Tuesday was the first time the anti-Soeharto
protesters were able to reach Jl. Cendana.

The second hearing of Soeharto's graft case is scheduled to be
held on Thursday. (jaw)