Students clash with Tarutung police

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)