Students protest Megawati's visit

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