Thugs show red light to student protesters in Riau
Thugs show red light to student protesters in Riau
Puji Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru
A protest against prostitution held by 500 students and residents
in Riau province ahead of the Ramadhan fasting month, which
starts this Friday, ended in a clash.
At least one student was injured in the attack, and a bus and
a motorcycle were set ablaze during the violence that flared up
at a brothel compound in Sawit Permai village, Dayun district,
some 40 kilometers from Siak regency.
The protesters from the Siak-based Institute of Economic
Sciences (STIE), the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University
(IAIN) and the University of Riau (Unri) marched into the red-
light district at around 11:30 a.m., demanding that it stop
business during the holy fasting month.
As they arrived in a caravan consisting of a bus, seven trucks
and dozens of motorcycles, the demonstrators saw about 150 sex
workers leaving the compound, which was surrounded by a tight
guard of hundreds of Functional Youths Association (IPK)
supporters.
Most of the group were armed with weapons, including firearms.
The protesters held an hour-long free speech forum in front of
the brothel complex, urging that it close for one month during
Ramadhan.
As they were about to disperse, a group of unidentified people
set fire to a house inside the brothel compound.
The compound's residents were angered by the incident and were
allegedly provoked to attack the student protesters, who fled for
their safety.
According to witnesses, the IPK youths also burned the
protesters' bus and one of their motorcycles.
"We had never thought we'd be attacked, and we were not ready
for a clash because we had planned a peaceful rally," said
protester Budi Anjas from Unri.
STIE student Oki Saputra was injured in the clash, sustaining
stab wounds in his right arm.
A number of fellow protesters were chased through the complex
by suspected IPK members, but it was unclear whether the students
evaded their attackers or were caught and are being held
captive.
Siak Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jaya Subianto could not be
reached for comment on the incident.
The IPK, founded in the North Sumatra capital of Medan, has
often been accused of backing gambling and prostitution rings in
several areas across the country.
Its members have been involved in conflicts with other youth
organizations, such as the Pancasila Youths and the Indonesian
Young Generation for Renewal.
Protests against entertainment centers are frequent ahead of
and during Ramadhan.
A similar demonstration was held on Monday in Pekanbaru, Riau,
by a separate group of students, who demanded that local
authorities shut down entertainment areas in observance of
Ramadhan. The demonstrated ended without incident at the mayor's
office.