Police patrol UGM after two student groups clash

Syaiful Amin, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Dozens of police officers were patrolling Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta on Thursday, a day after at least seven students were injured in a clash between two student groups.

The brawl took place on Wednesday night between students from the School of Forestry and the School of Political Science (Fisipol) during orientation for new students.

Zainal Bachruddin, the UGM deputy rector overseeing student affairs, said on Thursday the seven injured students, including two from the School of Forestry, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The students were injured when they began pelting rocks at each other, he said.

"Initially, older students from the School of Forestry were giving 350 new students a tour of the campus. But when they arrived at the Fisipol building, they met some rivals there. Then they started hurling stones at one another. I don't know who started the attack," Zainal said.

Dwi, 21, a member of the orientation organizing committee, said the brawl did not just involve new students.

"When we ran into (the students from Fisipol), we were suddenly stoned. The students from the School of Forestry starting to throw stones back. It was unavoidable," she said.

The clash was stopped by lectures, added Dwi, who is in the School of Forestry.

To prevent any further violence at the state-run university, about 60 police officers were deployed to the campus.

"We are here at the request of UGM. No students were arrested or questioned over the clash. We waiting for them to cool down," said West Depok Police chief Adj. Comr. Tri Heri Suprianto.

The dean of the School of Political Science, Sunyoto Usman, said he met with leaders of the School of Forestry to avoid any further problems.

He also called on the UGM students to change the way orientation is run to prevent future incidents.