Students demand legal action

Students demand legal action

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Around 500 students yesterday
demonstrated at the governor's office, demanding that the
government and the military complete planned legal action against
soldiers allegedly responsible for the death of three friends of
theirs.

The demonstration was held to coincide with the 90th day
anniversary of the death of Syaiful Bya, M. Tasyrif and Andi
Sultan during a student protest which ended in a clash with
security forces in April.

The students visited the grave of Tasyrif, prayed there and
marched carrying banners emblazoned with criticism of the
government and the military. "We're tired of promises," read one.
"Our friends' blood can never be repaid," said another.

The chief of the Wirabuana regional military command, Maj.
Gen. Sulatin, had promised to summon to a military tribunal 12
soldiers accused of "responding excessively" to the student
protests against public transport fare hikes in April.

It was during one of these protests that the students died.

One of the demonstrating students, Bachtiar, accused the
government and the military of trying to backtrack by not
bringing the soldiers to court after all.

"Unless the case is handled transparently, the people here
will no longer trust the government and the military," Yahya
Mustafa, an activist of a local non-governmental organization,
said. (20/swe)