Military chief warns officers

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Chief of the Bukit Barisan Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. T. Rizal Nurdin vowed yesterday to punish officers proven to have instigated Tuesday's riot on Jl. Flamboyan, Tanjung Sari, Antara reported.

A clash erupted between students and military officers following the demolition of fruit kiosks in the area where many students from nearby schools usually hang out, Maj. Gen. T Rizal Nurdin said.

A student claimed to have been "hit" by a tool an officer was using to demolish the kiosks and reported the incident to his fellow students at the nearby campus.

Enraged, the students went on a rampage and chased the demolition officers who were just about to leave.

The attack caught the officers by surprise, prompting them to call for reinforcement. This worsened the clash. The students threw stones at the officers and set fire to car tires, blocking the traffic.

Gen. Nurdin said the incident was caused by a "misunderstanding between the students and the demolition team".

"If an officer acted violently, it was because some students showed no respect for them," he said, adding that the authorities have started investigating the incident. (swe)