Four injured in attack on protesters

SEMARANG, Central Java: A demonstration held by the Democratic Front for Poverty Eradication (FDPRM) turned violent on Monday when the group was attacked by dozens of people claiming to be members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)

Two demonstrators, a plainclothes police officer and a local photojournalist were injured in the violence.

The incident occurred when demonstrators read out a speech criticizing the failure of President Megawati Soekarnoputri to eradicate poverty and her inclination to ask for foreign loans.

The attackers also seized other journalists' equipment, including their cameras, to stop them from covering the incident, while the police -- who arrived at the scene two hours later -- stood by and did nothing.

Following the incident, about 20 journalists filed a complain with the police, saying that attacking journalists was in violation of the law. -- JP