Students attack paramilitary students

Students attack paramilitary students

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of students of privately-run Krisna
Dwipayana University mobbed four members of the student
paramilitary regiment (Menwa) and razed two campus facilities to
the ground on Wednesday.

The violence erupted at the end of a peaceful protest by the
students demanding the abolition of Menwa in their campus in
Jatiwaringin, East Jakarta.

When their demands to speak to rector Sudarji Darmudihardjo
went unheeded, the students marched towards the Menwa post,
dragged out and beat four members guarding the place and then set
fire to the facility.

They also razed a clinic for the university's employees and
vandalized a printing facility as they searched for other Menwa
members, including its commander Dwi Antoro.

The four injured Menwa members were taken to the rectorate
office for treatment.

Menwa runs training in military discipline for university
students. The organization has become unpopular among other
students because of the abusive behavior of its members.

Several universities, including state-run ones, have abolished
the Menwa units in their campuses.

The rampage stopped when Sudarji appeared to meet with
students.

Regretting the violence, the rector agreed to their demand to
disband the regiment and signed a statement prepared by the
students to that effect. (01)