Riot police halt protest at DPR
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of riot troops ringed the House of Representatives (DPR) compound on Tuesday and surrounding streets were blocked off to ensure that students demonstrators would not return after at least two were bayoneted in a predawn clash with security personnel.
The confrontation between about 1,000 students and troops erupted when the security personnel began to evict students from the grounds at 1:20 a.m.
Police closed Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Asia Africa, Jl. Gerbang Pemuda and erected barb wire barricades after about 200 students tried to reenter the compound on Tuesday afternoon and staged a peaceful protest in front of the main gate of the House.
After singing and reiterating demands for the resignation of President B.J. Habibie, the students marched back to the Catholic Atmajaya University campus on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta under a tight security watch. The street closures caused severe traffic jams in Jakarta until late evening.
House activities proceeded as usual, including a hearing between Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Commission I overseeing political affairs.
In Monday's demonstration organized by Forum Kota, an association of students of 37 universities and colleges in Greater Jakarta, about 1,000 students broke down the House's front gate. Tight security prevented them from reaching the main building. The standoff with riot police lasted until the latter dispersed the students using tear gas and rattan sticks early on Tuesday.
According to Antara news agency, at least five people were injured, including two students who were bayoneted. The other three were hit by stones or trampled in the melee.
An official of Atma Jaya Hospital in Pluit, North Jakarta. confirmed that two students underwent emergency surgery, but refused to give details of their injuries.
Forum Kota spokesperson Eli identified the victims as M. Yanwar from the Institute of Social and Political Sciences (IISIP) and Harry Joko from the National Institute of Science and Technology (ISTN). Yanwar was stabbed in the back and Harry sustained a wound to his stomach, Eli said.
"The bayonets used to hurt the students are owned by the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob)," Eli was quoted as saying by Antara.
The agency also reported that five officers were injured by rocks and bottles thrown by demonstrators.
ISTN rector Ahmad Fuad Afdhal confirmed that Harry Joko and another student from his institution, Baskoro, were injured.
"We regret the attitude of the security forces in dispersing the protest," Ahmad said in a statement.
In Surabaya, East Java, thousands of students from various universities took to the streets and held a 30-minute oration in front of the Grahadi state building.
They insisted that Habibie, scheduled to visit Surabaya on Wednesday, should realize his pledge to end people's suffering and lower food prices.
"We need cheap food, not political parties, and not official rethoric," said M. Sahlan, a student of Surabaya Institute of Teaching Training (IKIP). High school students also joined the protest with one male student, Siswadi, amusing security personnel by proclaiming: "It's the reform era now, why can't we tie up our hair or smoke in class?"
Students threatened to stage massive demonstrations during Habibie's visit to the East Java capital during which he is scheduled to celebrate National Sports Day.
In Jambi, about 300 students of the state-run Sultan Thaha Institute of Islamic Teaching (IAIN) marched to the local council Tuesday morning.
"Do not let people die of starvation," they chanted.
Students were instrumental in causing the resignation of Soeharto from the presidency. In May, more than 20,000 students camped in the House compound for days to demand Soeharto step down. After days of rioting which claimed 1,200 victims, Soeharto bowed to pressure and handed power to Habibie, his vice president.
Several hours after Soeharto left office on May 21, the military forcibly ejected the students from the compound. (nur/imn/prb/byg)