Students get psychiatric help

SURABAYA, East Java: The chairman of the East Java branch of Muhammadiyah, Fasich, said on Saturday that it will invite psychiatrists and psychologists from Airlangga University and Malang's University of Muhammadiyah to examine the psychological condition of Muhammadiyah students.

"Most of the students, from high school to university, are traumatized after the riot on Feb. 7," Fasich said.

Mobs claiming to support President Abdurrahman Wahid ran amok during the riot and attacked Muhammadiyah facilities, including schools in Gresik, Situbondo, Pasuruan, Malang and Sidoarjo.

"Supporters threw stones and marbles at the buildings," Fasich said, adding that parents and teachers are also traumatized.

Fasich expressed his gratitude over Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi who had offered help to rehabilitate the school buildings if the rioters proved to be NU's members.

"We've already rehabilitated some of the damage. We're only asking for a more concrete step to prevent this kind of thing from happening again in the name of Indonesian Muslim unity," said Fasich, who is also a professor at Airlangga University's school of pharmacy.(nur)