Students protest Nurdin acquittal

Students protest Nurdin acquittal

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Violence marred more student
demonstrations over the acquittal of Golkar legislator and
businessman Nurdin Halid of corruption charges here on Tuesday.

Thousands of students, grouped in the Makasar Student
Solidarity Movement, blockaded the major thoroughfare Jl. Urip
Sumoharjo and set a taxi on fire on their way to the district
court.

The taxi belonged to the Hasanuddin cooperatives center run by
one of Nurdin's brothers.

Charges against Nurdin were dropped on Monday after the court
found no evidence that he embezzled Rp 115 billion (US$12
million) from farmers' compulsory savings during his tenure as
manager of the cooperatives center between 1992 and 1994.

Another group of students were involved in a stone throwing
incident with Nurdin supporters near the state-owned Institute of
Teacher's Training on Jl. Pettarani.

Police fired warning shots to disperse the students.

Nine people possessing sharp weapon were arrested, seven of
whom were released later in the afternoon.

Students demanded police clarification regarding severe
measures used to disperse an overnight rally.

One student sustained wounds from a rubber bullet.

Ujungpandang Police chief Col. Yusuf Manggabarani defended his
officers, saying their actions complied with standard procedures.
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