Medan students protest by hanging themselves

Medan students protest by hanging themselves

MEDAN (JP): Fourteen students at St. Thomas Catholic
University used a novel, albeit very dangerous, way to protest
what they perceived as the government's sluggish handling of the
economic crisis. They hanged themselves until they passed out.

If the government "failed to respond appropriately", one
student threatened, he would immolate himself.

The students hung thick ropes from the third floor of their
school building on Jl. Setiabudi, Tanjungsari, and arranged them
in such a way so they hanged from both their torsos and their
necks.

The students first undertook the dangerous protest on Oct. 1.

On the first day, eleven students were unconscious for four
hours after hanging for 10 minutes. They were taken to Elizabeth
Hospital for treatment.

One of the students, Anna Saragih, is still in the hospital
after she joined the protest on Saturday.

Student leader Fransiskus Stars Sitanggang said he had just
received a letter from students of the engineering school, saying
he would douse himself with gasoline and set it alight if the
government did not respond to their demands. He did not give any
deadline.

Among the students' demands are lower food prices, the
abolition of the Armed Forces dual function, the resignation of
President B.J. Habibie, and national reconciliation.

Sitanggang said the school management neither objected to nor
encouraged the protest.

Sitanggang said that all students who joined the act were
aware and willing to accept the risks involved in the protest,
including the possibility of death if the rope tore or was tied
too tight.

Sitanggang, who hanged himself on the first day, said he now
had headaches and was not feeling well.

Erita Harefa, 19, who hanged herself on Saturday, said she
also had headaches. However, she said, she was not afraid of
death.

The St. Thomas students have been involved in various student
demonstrations since early this year. They have also performed
hunger strikes and been involved in clashes with the military.
(21/01)