Stabbed students get donations

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso handed over on Tuesday a donation of Rp 10 million (US$1,111) to two university students who were bayoneted during last month's student demonstration in front of the House of Representatives building in Central Jakarta.

"It's a kind of fulfillment to a promise I made to university assistant rectors in a meeting last month that I would financially help the students who were stabbed," Sutiyoso said.

The two students, Januar Hadi of the Institute of Social and Political Sciences (IISIP) and Harry Joko of the National Institute of Science and Technology (ISTN), each received Rp 5 million.

At the ceremony at City Hall, the two students were accompanied by their parents, assistant rectors and representatives from North Jakarta's Atma Jaya hospital where they were treated.

About 1,000 students flocked to the House compound during the demonstration, organized by Forum Kota, an association of students from 37 universities and colleges in Greater Jakarta, demanding that President B.J. Habibie quit, among other things.

Januar and Joko were bayoneted and three other students were pelted with stones or trampled in the melee.

Head of the city's public relations agency, Kamaludin Santos, said that the city administration had paid the costs of Januar and Joko's medical treatment, but refused to reveal the figure.

Both Januar and Joko told reporters that they would join future student demonstrations despite the donation. "The donation won't effect our activities," Januar said.

Joko's father, Marjono, asked the governor to help the students not only in the form of money, but also by conveying to soldiers and security officers not to react harshly toward students. (ind)