Ten injured in Habibie's W. Java visit

SUMEDANG, West Java (JP): Seven protesting students and three security personnel were injured in a clash during President B.J. Habibie's visit to a college in Jatinangor district on Saturday.

About 100 students grouped in Bandung's Young Indonesians Front, waving banners containing antiviolence messages, tried to force their way through a heavy security line about 100 meters from the School of Home Administration. The security personnel tried to push the students away with batons, but ended up engaged in a scuffle.

The students, in their posters and slogans, demanded that Habibie bring his predecessor Soeharto to court. They also demanded that Minister of Defense/Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto be tried for military violence in Aceh.

The students also blasted Habibie for improper policies that failed to protect the people's interests, said the students in a statement.

The protest was the second Habibie faced in less than one week. On Thursday, during visits to areas considered his political stronghold in his birthplace of South Sulawesi, Habibie also became the target of a student demonstration.

On Saturday, in an address to the school's new graduates who will soon become local administrators, Habibie said he never had any doubts in leading the country and in drawing up policies on reform and the protection of the public's interests.

"Authority is a mandate which has to be kept with full responsibility. This sense of responsibility makes me stronger in running the reform agenda as bestowed upon me by the people through the 1998 People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Special Session," Habibie said.

Habibie also told the graduates to respect the cultures, religions and traditions of communities where they will serve.

The key to a successful career is sincerity, hard work and professionalism, he added. (43/edt)