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.