Students clash with police in Makassar

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Some 100 students from various organizations in Makassar clashed on Saturday with police during a demonstration in front of the Makassar General Elections Commission (KPUD) office.

No fatalities or serious injuries were reported in the incident, but police arrested 21 students for questioning.

The clash began at noon when students insisted on continuing their demonstration in front of the KPUD office after police had ordered them to disperse.

Officers began to push the demonstrators away from the office, and when the students started shoving the officers back the standoff escalated into a clash.

A police officer fired a warning shot, which prompted the demonstrators to flee.

The students held the demonstration to urge voters to shun political parties they identified as remnants of Soeharto's New Order regime, namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Golkar Party. -- JP