Shooting victim leaves hospital after 69 days

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)