Students protest Megawati's visit

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: About 1,000 university students clashed with security forces on Monday when they protested President Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to the city.

Seven students were injured and 15 others were arrested for disturbing public order, while a truck carrying students was damaged in the clash.

The injured students were taken to the nearby Plaju Muhammadiyah Hospital, while several students and lawyers from the Palembang Legal Aid Foundation negotiated with the police for the release of the arrested students.

The clash began when the students marched from the Muhammadiyah University campus to the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Mosque, which was about to be inaugurated by Megawati. The mosque renovation cost Rp 34 billion (US$4.15 million).

But the students were blocked by the police on their way to the mosque, as the officers said that the students had not obtained permission to stage a protest.

The inauguration ceremony was not disrupted by the clash, and concluded successfully. -- Antara

'Staff dismissal not related to PPP'

JAKARTA: Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah denied on Monday an allegation that he had decided to dismiss nine key aides because they had failed to help him procure top post at the United Development Party (PPP).

The ministry's organizational restructuring was the only motive behind the dismissal, he said, and did not involve personal affairs.

The minister suddenly expelled four of his five advisors and also discharged five expert staff on Thursday without any notice.

The dismissals came only several days after the PPP concluded its national meeting that saw the reelection of Hamzah Haz as party chairman.

Bachtiar was Hamzah's sole contender for the PPP chairmanship.

The four dismissed advisors were Usman Paloh, Kemal Rumawi, Syaiful Masykur and Masrur Jafas. Another advisor, Sigit Hariowibisono, survived the mass dismissal.

The five dismissed expert staff were Akip Masri Muchtar, Irgan Chairul Mahfiz, Mahmud Rakasima, Wall Paragoan and Fauzi Yusuf Hasibuan, although Irgan and Akip were reinstated later.

Mahmud said he would take legal recourse against the dismissal, as it was an authoritarian measure and was forcibly made without any prior notice. -- JP