State employees, physicians join street demonstrations
State employees, physicians join street demonstrations
JAKARTA (JP): Ignoring the military's warnings and voicing
skepticism over the government's pledge for reform, more non-
students -- including state employees, physicians and nurses --
joined the student movement yesterday by staging antigovernment
rallies on the streets.
Violent clashes with security forces occurred in some cities,
such as Surakarta, Yogyakarta and Jakarta, leaving hundreds of
protesters, including non-students who joined the rallies,
seriously injured after being beaten or shot by officers
dispersing the crowds.
Hundreds of East Java health employees joined a rally of 2,000
physicians, nurses and medical students of the state Airlangga
University in Surabaya.
Under the tiring eyes of frustrated security personnel, the
protesters -- mostly in their respective uniforms -- happily
marched three kilometers through Jl. Moestopo, Jl. Karang
Menjangan, Jl. Airlangga and Jl. Dharmawangsa.
The crowd, singing patriotic and religious songs, were cheered
with horns and applause from motorists and onlookers, most of
whom joined the march.
A giant banner in the crowd read: "We want concrete and
simultaneous reforms!"
A doctor in the rally screamed: "Can you imagine what will
happen if all these medical people go on strike?"
At the Airlangga University campus, about 4,000 students and
senior lecturers held a free-speech forum.
Posters on the stage and speeches delivered by the
university's professors strongly called for reform and changes in
the top levels of government.
"Reform is already urgent and it should be accompanied with a
new leadership," professor Miendrowo told the crowd.
At the same time, dozens of becak (rickshaw) drivers packed
the streets in the city center of Surabaya, also demanding
reforms and protesting against the government's decision to
increase fuel prices.
The protesters were escorted only by a handful of military
officials riding bicycles.
In Surakarta, the country's largest batik producing center,
120 protesters, both students and non-students, were admitted to
Muwardi Hospital for injuries suffered after brutal clashes with
a strong contingent of security personnel.
The clash took place on Jl. Sutami shortly after the security
forces fired rubber bullets and charged the protesters with clubs
and rattan sticks when the crowd refused to disperse.
Before retreating to hide in nearby villages, the crowd threw
stones at the officials.
In Jakarta, 2,000 protesters, including passers-by who joined
the student demonstration, on Jl. Kyai Tapa in West Jakarta,
threw stones at security officers.
"Hey, officers! We're suffering together in this crisis,
aren't we!," a protester shouted at the security forces.
The street protest was staged by students of STIE Trisakti,
STMIK Indonesia, Tarumanagara University, Trisakti University,
Satya Gama University, Mercu Buana University and Ukrida.
No serious incidents occurred during the rally, which ended
peacefully in the evening.
In front of the House of Representatives building on Jl. Gatot
Subroto in Central Jakarta, a group of 500 Muhammadiyah students
filled the street when they were not allowed by security forces
to enter the building complex.
The overflow quickly caused heavy traffic congestion in the
surrounding area as most employees in the capital were heading
home for the weekend.
Most of the students were forced into police trucks, which
drove them to the Jakarta Police Headquarters for identification
prior to their release.
A peaceful protest was also held at the Rawamangun Teacher's
College campus in East Jakarta.
In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, thousands of students
continued their street protests despite strong warnings from
local security forces, which had one of its members stripped
naked by demonstrators Thursday.
In Yogyakarta, at least three students taking part in a street
rally of 1,000 people on Jl. Gejayan were detained by police
without warning.
The protesters were also seeking answers from local
authorities about five of their missing colleagues.
Sporadic street protests and on-campus demonstrations were
staged in Semarang and nearby towns by thousands of students from
different universities.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar announced
yesterday that police would force students into their trucks to
be taken to nearby police offices for identification if the
students kept on staging street protests.
(edt/byg/ivy/har/swa/nur/23/44/30)