Students burn police stations

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of students of Haluoleo University in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi burned three police posts and attacked another yesterday in retaliation against police mistreatment of their friends.

The angry students also smashed street lamps and traffic signs as they made their way from the new campus in Andinuhu to the old campus in Kemaraya.

Shops were closed and the traffic was rerouted as the students took to streets.

No police presence was evident when the students ran riot, in an apparent bid to avoid a massive brawl. Instead, military personnel stood guard and prevented the unrest from escalating.

A student was quoted by Antara as saying that several members of the mobile brigade of the provincial police entered the students' dormitory Wednesday evening and physically assaulted 10 students. Four students were wounded and rushed to the hospital. One of them was still unconscious yesterday.

Wednesday's assault followed a brawl pitting the two sides that wounded a mobile brigade member Tuesday. It is not clear what sparked the fight.

Local military commander Lt. Col Sudirman K. regretted the incident, saying that it would not have erupted had the students reported the incident to the Military Police.

He called on the students to remain calm and return home. There was no arrest reported following the rampage.

The province's police chief, Col. I Ketut Pasek Suyasa, could not be reached for comment. (amd)