Thousands of students decry arrests in Makassar

Thousands of students decry arrests in Makassar

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Thousands of students at
various higher education institutions and the congregation of the
Al Markaz al Islami mosque marched on Friday to the police
station demanding the release of their friends detained during
recent street demonstrations.

"We come peacefully. We urge the police to free our fellow
Muslim students currently detained at the station," spokesman for
the protesters, Ato Suharto, told The Jakarta Post.

Before they marched to the station, they gathered in the yard
of the mosque and heard speeches from speakers who were
reportedly members of a jihad movement in Maluku.

The heated situation at the mosque was cooled down a little by
the mosque's preacher for Friday's noon prayer, who asked local
Muslims not to be provoked by irresponsible groups.

Farid S said in his speech that Makassar Muslims must avoid
any actions which could lead to the destruction of the city.

Muslim students staged protests from Monday to Wednesday in
Makassar, demanding that the government be fair and more serious
in their handling of the sectarian conflict in Maluku.

Some of the students stopped motorists to check their IDs and
interrogate non-Muslim motorists. They also tortured non-Muslims.
Clashes with the military personnel took place on Tuesday night
and arrests were made, as police considered the students had been
brutal.

On Friday all shops were closed and a large number of troops
were on alert in strategic spots.

At least 16 companies of soldiers were fielded, military
sources said.

The demonstrators failed to negotiate with the police on the
release of the 26 students. They threatened to cause trouble if
their colleagues were not freed.

Ato said the human rights of the 26 students should not be
violated during questioning. "Any violations will spark new
clashes," Ato said. (27/sur)