Shooting victim leaves hospital after 69 days

JAKARTA (JP): The last injured victim of the May 12 shooting incident at Trisakti University left Sumber Waras Hospital yesterday after undergoing 69 days of treatment for complications from a bullet wound.

Sofyan Rahman, a student of the School of Mineral Technology at the university, looked pale and weak while attending a small ceremony organized by the hospital to mark his recovery.

Sofyan, who was accompanied by his parents yesterday, was treated for kidney failure caused when a bullet pierced his right shoulder.

Several days ago, a bed-ridden Sofyan passed the examination for his final thesis in a session held in his hospital room.

He was among 20 people, mostly students from the West Jakarta university, who were shot during an antigovernment rally. Four students died. The incident sparked massive riots in Jakarta and other cities in ensuing days which eventually led to former president Soeharto's resignation.

Of the 16 injured victims, seven were immediately allowed to go home after receiving first aid from Sumber Waras staff and seven others, including Sofyan, were hospitalized.

The other two victims, Jonathan Henrick and M. Ali Rahmat, both Trisakti students, were treated at Pertamina hospital in South Jakarta respectively at their relatives' request.

Students who earlier returned home included Fero Prasetio of the department of management of the School of Economy, Alexander Bulotammu of the department of accounting of the School of Economy, Yansen Pasaribu of the School of Law and Yudha Yulianto of the department of mechanical engineering of the School of Industrial Technology.

Sumber Waras spokesman Robert Imam Soeteja said the hospital had not charged the victims' families in full for their treatment.

"All of us didn't want this incident to happen," he said at yesterday's ceremony.

"This is only our small contribution to the reform movement."

Nightmare

Sofyan said he was rushed to the hospital after being shot in his right shoulder.

Medical examination revealed the bullet, which passed through his back, had also pierced his kidney. He was prescribed for kidney dialysis.

"Doctors had thought earlier that my kidney could no longer function. But now it works. I do not have to proceed with the dialysis," said Sofyan.

He said that he was standing on the porch of the Syarif Thayeb building in the campus complex when he was hit by the bullet.

He said he was observing the commotion after security officers dispersed the rally and forced the students to enter the campus.

"I'm sure that the shooting came from the people who stood at the flyover in front of the Trisakti university," he said.

In his speech, Sofyan's father, Abdul Rahman Idris, said that he had initially felt hopeless when he saw his eldest son's condition.

"I was almost hopeless when I saw my son during the first three weeks of the treatment. I once told myself 'why didn't he join his four fellow students who died shortly after the shooting?'."

The students who died were Hery Hartanto, Elang Mulia Lesmana, Hendriawan Sie and Hafidhin Royan.

He also apologized to the hospital staff members for his behavior, admitting that he had lost control upon seeing his son.

The director of the hospital, Arend Karel Ponggawa, said Sofyan had suffered psychological trauma after the incident.

"He got frightened upon seeing the green uniform of the Armed Forces personnel. But now he's getting better and his family supported his gradual recovery."

Also present at the ceremony were the secretary-general of the Ministry of Health, E. Sutarto, the chairman of Trisakti student senate, Julianto Hendro Cahyono and members of the hospital staff. (ivy)