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)