Protesters greet Gus Dur in Kendari

Protesters greet Gus Dur in Kendari

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of protesters in the Southeast
Sulawesi provincial capital Kendari caused a two-hour cut in
electricity and telephone services on Thursday, in a show of
discontent at President Abdurrahman Wahid's visit.

Security forces kept protesters about one kilometer from
Wolter Monginsidi Airport as the presidential entourage touched
down, Antara reported. A policeman was injured in the standoff,
the news agency added.

The demonstrators, most of whom were students, then made their
way to the city's main power station in a convoy of motorcycles
and cars.

They forced workers their to cut the Kendari power supply for
two hours.

They then proceeded to the telecommunications office and
forced operators to cut long-distance and international telephone
connections.

Abdurrahman, who is fighting for his political survival, was
on a one-day visit to Kendari to take part in a tree planting
ceremony.

The Kendari visit was originally scheduled for early last
week, but the trip was canceled at the last minute without
explanation. The President canceled two other out-of-town trips
last week.

In a related development, the police in Kendari announced
later on Thursday that a local legislator was being questioned in
connection with the vandalism of a photograph of Abdurrahman at
the provincial council building earlier in the week.

The incident took place on Monday when hundreds of students
occupied the council building to protest the President's planned
visit to Kendari.

The students removed the President's photograph from the wall
and allegedly forced provincial council deputy speaker Andrey
Jufri to burn the picture.

Andrey, who was present to attempt to calm the protesters, is
a member of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Antara said.

Southeast Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Djumain Arief was
quoted by the news agency as saying on Thursday that the protests
had been "forgiven" by the President.

Sulawesi is a stronghold of the Golkar Party.

The House of Representatives has censured the President twice
this year, opening the way for his possible impeachment at a
special session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

Accompanying the President on Thursday were First Lady Sinta
Nuriyah Abdurrahman, State Minister of Forestry Marzuki Usman and
Southeast Sulawesi Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin. (byg) Photo on
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