Students protest attack on seminar

YOGYAKARTA: Representatives of 50 student groups and non- governmental organizations here urged Governor Hamengkubuwono X on Monday to take stern measures against members of a Muslim group who raided an AIDS discussion on Saturday night.

The incident at Kaliurang tourism complex left about 25 people injured, including two French nationals.

"The governor is our last hope for justice without any discrimination. These brutal acts must be investigated and those responsible for the acts must be tried," the groups said in a joint statement on Monday.

Advocacy Coordinator of the Yogyakarta branch of the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI) Wuwun Widyawati accused Yogyakarta Police of ignorance in releasing 52 suspects because of a lack of evidence.

Some 150 people, armed with wooden sticks and sharp weapons, stormed the building where the discussion took place. About 350 attendees from Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Surakarta and Malang, comprising people considered at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, scattered for safety. (44/edt)