Sulawesi students protest against West

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Hundreds of students from Hasanuddin University and the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) burned the Australian, Portuguese and American flags in a protest in front of the provincial council building on Tuesday.

The students shouted condemnation against the three countries, which they said had intruded into Indonesian domestic affairs.

"They have fueled the hostility among East Timorese, which later caused clashes among them and victimized innocent people," said UMI spokesman Bakri Ridwan.

The students were no less disparaging of President B.J. Habibie.

The chairman of the student senate of the law school at Hasanuddin University, Mappabali, blamed Habibie and Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto for Indonesia's fall from grace, which resulted in the international recriminations. (27/emf)