Students protest against human rights group
Students protest against human rights group
JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of Moslem university students staged
protest at the National Police Headquarters on Friday to demand
the executives of the Volunteers for Humanity group be questioned
for spreading groundless information.
Students, grouped in an union called Hammas, also demanded the
police reveal who is behind the killing spree in Banyuwangi, East
Java.
Arriving in three minibuses, the students marched around the
headquarters and then assembled in front of the police
information office.
The arrival of the group caused no major traffic congestion in
the area because police hastily ushered the protesters into the
grounds of the headquarters on Jl. Trunojoyo in South Jakarta.
The students tied white ribbons in their hair and accused
priest Sandyawan Sumardi, the coordinator of the Volunteers for
Humanity, of spreading lies and undermining the country's
dignity.
"He (Sandyawan) and his group have caused our country to be
labeled as barbaric and racist by the international community,"
one of the protesters said.
Some of the protesters chanted, "Dismiss the Volunteers for
Humanity".
Others unfurled banners reading: "National Police, We Need
Justice, Not Bullshit. Mass Rape in May Riots is the Joke of the
Volunteers for Humanity Group. Volunteers for Humanity Group (is)
a great Satan".
Muhammad Alfian, who coordinated the protest, said the
students wanted to give moral support to police efforts to uphold
the law.
"How can the Volunteers for Humanity keep their mouth shut
while dozens have been killed in the Banyuwangi murder spree?
"But they blow up the murder of a single girl?" Alfian said,
referring to Friday's murder of an 18-year-old high school
student.
Representatives of the group were received by National Police
deputy spokesman Col. Bambang Haryoko.
"The police thank you for reminding us about our duties, but
you must understand that we have limitations," Bambang said.
He promised to pass on the students' demands to National
Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi, who was not at the office at
the time.
Outside the meeting room, other protesters shouted: "Police,
please choose the people or power."
The protesters dispersed peacefully after the meeting. (emf)