Protests in Medan turning brutal: Military

MEDAN (JP): Student demonstrations, which led to riots here Monday night, have become progressively more violent and racial in nature with increased incidents of looting and the burning of private property, a high-ranking military officer said yesterday.

"The student actions can no longer be tolerated. We will take stern action against them in line with existing regulations," said Bukit Barisan Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ismed Yuzairi in Medan.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar shared Ismed's statement, saying that 47 people were detained for further questioning over their alleged involvement in Monday night's incident.

He explained in Jakarta yesterday that another 125 people were also arrested during an earlier incident in Medan on Saturday. "Out of this number, 39 have officially been classified as non- students," he said.

"This is what we have warned them (the students) from the beginning. We can't guarantee the safety of a demonstration if it is held outside of the campus. People are coming from all over the place and when there is a mass of people gathered, anything can happen."

Ismed, who is also the head of the Medan branch of the Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability (Bakorstanasda), said Monday night's incident began at 9 p.m. after 1,500 students held a street rally along Jl. Pancing in front of the Medan Teachers Training Institute.

The students, joined by some non-students, threw stones at dozens of shops and houses and burned a Kijang van on the street, he said.

The violence later spread to Jl. Prof. M. Yamin, Jl. Sujono, Jl. AR. Hakim and Jl. Mandala. Hundreds of shops were damaged, with electronic equipment and foodstuffs reportedly destroyed.

Eight cars and three motorcycles parked at nearby Aksara Plaza and Buana Plaza were also set ablaze.

The angry crowd later blocked roads with stones and burned car tires.

Armed Forces personnel were able to contain the violence by dawn.

Parts of the city, however, were tense throughout the day yesterday and security personnel remained on high alert.

Ismed explained that negotiations between the students and the police at 9 p.m. on Monday concluded with an agreement for the students to be allowed to exit the campus in order to go home.

When they passed along Jl. Pancing, however, some began to throw stones at nearby shops, houses and cars, he said.

"The crowd also threw Molotov cocktails at the officers," Da'i said.

"We're still gathering information on damages from the incident," he said.

The protesters arrested in the incident could face various criminal charges, Da'i said.

"Don't say the police does not want reform. We support reform as long as it is done constitutionally and gradually," he reiterated.

When asked about police actions to prevent street rallies, Da'i said all the necessary measures were based on standard procedures.

"Up until now, we have used rubber bullets to deal with uncontrollable protests. We won't use any other kinds of bullets.

"You have to know that when the crowds become violent, they tend to blindly attack officers. If they throw stones or Molotov cocktails, what do you expect us to do in that kind of situation? The main issue is to protect the innocent and our officers.

"We have procedures for the use of rubber bullets and tear gas. Rubber bullets are first shot in the air. If the crowd gets really rough and things become uncontrollable, we aim at the crowd.

"But one thing is for sure, every decision made is based on careful judgment," he said.

"We will take firm action against all protesters who create riots, not only in Medan but nationally." (edt)