Students clash with Tarutung police
JAKARTA (JP): Demonstrations on Thursday were marred by violence as stone pelting between students, other protesters and security officers in Medan, North Sumatra led to warning shots and tear gas being directed at demonstrators.
A few injuries resulting from the shooting were reported from locals in Tarutung, almost 200 kilometers away from Medan, but a police officer there told The Jakarta Post that none of 14 people sent to the local hospital were being treated for bullet wounds.
Students from Medan were supporting residents' protests against a pulp factory, PT Inti Indorayon Utama in Porsea. The stone throwing occurred during negotiations with police.
The students had demanded the release of 79 demonstrators who had been detained for protesting the factory's activities.
North Tapanuli Regent TMH Sinaga told The Jakarta Post that he had held a dialog with students and those representing Porsea locals following the incident.
He said that the police would release students and some of the Porsea locals. He said only 16 of the original 79 people detained would be held as they were needed for further investigations of demonstrations near the pulp plant in Porsea in the past.
Students and many people in North Tapanuli have demanded the government close the currently non-operating plant for harming the environment. The factory is still being audited.
Students in other cities continued their rallies on Thursday to demand former president Soeharto be put on trial for corruption and human rights abuses.
In Surabaya, East Java, about 1,000 students protested at the provincial legislature demanding Soeharto be put on trial and that the Armed Forces (ABRI) quit politics. Students said that the government should also immediately take concrete steps to follow up the People's Consultative Assembly decree on clean governance.
They said that the government should start its campaign against corrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices with a thorough investigation into Soeharto's wealth, widely believed to have been illicitly amassed during his 32-year rule.
The students also reiterated demands for the accountability of Minister of Defense and Security/ABRI commander Gen. Wiranto regarding the clashes of Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 in Jakarta that claimed 16 lives.
In Semarang, Central Java, another 300 students at the local prosecutor's office demanded Soeharto, his family and cronies be brought to trial for corruption.
Students also said that local officials including former governor Soewardi should also be questioned for alleged corrupt practices.
Separately, about 50 East Timorese students staged a protest against the military operations and the alleged human rights abuses in the troubled province following an attack on a military post by a group of rebels on Nov. 9.
The International Red Cross, however, said Thursday it had found no evidence of a massacre by the military.
Hundreds of students in Bandung "hijacked" eight state-owned Damri bus and headed to Jakarta. They said this was because security officers had failed to meet their promise to help students reach Jakarta by train. But three of the buses broke down. "Because they insisted, we let them do it," a Damri employee, Koko, said, "Just as long as they're careful." (21/har/nur/byg)