Three anti-TNI students arrested

JEMBER, East Java: Jember police arrested three students on Saturday after they staged a protest in Tegal Boto area here without permit.

The students, grouped under the National Student League for Democracy (LMND), were Achmad Zainul Rofiq, Abdul Basit and Apolos Sudardoni. All three are students from Jember-based Brawijaya University.

"They were arrested for questioning on the grounds that they have violated Law No. 9/1998 on the Freedom of Expression," said Jember Police's chief of intelligence Adj. Comr. Isworo.

The protest, organized by the three students, were attended by some 30 students. The protest was held in conjunction with the 58th Anniversary of the Indonesian military (TNI) that falls on Oct. 5.

In the protest, the students rejected the involvement of the military in politics. The students also demanded justice in the trials for generals accused of gross human rights violations in the East Timor and Tanjung Priok cases.

Despite the arrest of the three students, Isworo said that the police would immediately release them after questioning.

Law No. 9/1998 gave the right to the police to disperse people staging protests without a permit, but it does not stipulate jail sentences. Antara