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Student protests turn violent
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 06/25/2008 10:32 AM | Headlines
MAKING THEMSELVES HEARD: Protesting students seek cover as they are hit by a police water cannon during a fuel price protest in front of the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Tuesday. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)
Student protests in Jakarta on Tuesday turned violent, leaving at least 18 people injured and causing massive traffic jams that brought areas of the city to a virtual standstill.
Several students were detained and questioned at Jakarta Police Headquarters.
At least 1,000 students gathered at the gates of the House of Representatives building, demanding they be allowed to take part in a plenary session being held to discuss the government's fuel price policy.
They also voiced solidarity with National University student Maftuh Fauzi, who died on June 20 a month after being involved in a clash with police on the university's South Jakarta campus.
The protesters blocked a section of Jl. Gatot Subroto, leaving only one lane available for vehicles.
They burned tires in the street in front of the House and clashed with police when officers moved in to arrest the more violent protesters.
Police used water cannons on the protesters, who responded by pelting the officers with stones.
"We just want to enter the House building to persuade lawmakers to vote to question the government over its fuel price policy. We hope by using their right to inquiry, they can annul the government's fuel price hike policy," one of the leaders of the student protesters, Lalu Hilman Afriandi, said.
He said several students attempted to enter the House compound through a back gate, located on Jl. Gelora, but security guards blocked them.
"We tried to enter the building but we failed. That's why many students were angry," he said.
During the plenary session, 233 of 360 lawmakers voted for an inquiry into the government's fuel price policy.
Another protest in front of Atma Jaya University, on Jl. Sudirman, also turned violent as students searched for government cars before burning one vehicle.
Students and activists also protested at the Jl. Rasuna Said office of copper and gold mining company Freeport, demanding the government nationalize the company. The protesters halted the operation of TransJakarta buses serving the Kuningan-Ragunan route.
The rallies caused massive traffic jams, forcing office workers to seek alternative routes home.
Nine cars were damaged during the protests, including one that was completely burned out.
Commenting on the violent protests, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana called on the Atma Jaya University rector to do more to control students.
He said police detained five students over the violence.
"The rector told us to take all necessary measures to secure the protest," he said. (ind)
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Gene Rousman (not verified) — Wed, 06/25/2008 - 11:01pm
Is it just typical of Indonesian people to react violently when they protest on something that they don't like/agree on ? Could they not protest calmly and orderly to have their voice heard? What example do they set by burning cars and damaging public or individual property ? At the heart of the problem, greed and corruption is the issue. There is enough wealth in the country for it to be self sufficient. I think everybody needs to be self restraint and resist corruption. That is the only way forward for Indonesia.
S Wirawan (not verified) — Wed, 06/25/2008 - 10:18pm
Sometimes, I truly wonder the quality of our university graduates.
Let us do an extreme hypothesis (which is really impossible). Suppose that our country is free from corruption and our national budget can carry the burden of subsidy, the fuel subsidy is still morally wrong!
Cheap fuel will only encourage wastage and besides, money diverted from the subsidies can be used for national development or improving healthcare.
By cutting the fuel subsidies today, our people and industries are forced to be creative in improving efficiency. This is an incentive to develop new technology as well. Our economy will become more competitive in facing future challenges.
Inilah mahasiswa2 yang kegiatannya 15% tidur di sekolah, 85% judi bola.
Joseph (not verified) — Wed, 06/25/2008 - 8:38pm
The student's intentions might be good, but there methods are counterproductive. Although who can blame them? FPI beats people in public and sways the government... If only educated young people held so much political influence.
But really, the students aren't thinking their position through. They don't want the government to increase fuel prices, but then how do they expect the government to handle the rising price of oil globally? Are they really so foolish to think that the government can just magically lower the price of oil without any negative effects. Maybe they should use the meager money they spend on education to keep fuel prices down?
These students just offer protest and violence. That solves nothing. People in this country need to learn to stop complaining and blaming each other, and start offering practical solutions.
Simon BC Lacey (not verified) — Wed, 06/25/2008 - 7:50pm
OK a few comments and questions on this article and what actually transpired yesterday in Jakarta:
First, why didn't anyone try and find out which powerful economic interests are actually BEHIND the students. I mean, this is NOT the 1960s and we are NOT in Paris or Berkeley. Today, students basically have 2 things on their mind: 1) Getting a job when they graduate and 2) getting laid next weekend. The LAST thing on their mind is the government's latest controversial decision to phase out or reduce a subsidy from which they barely benefit. SO WHO IS PAYING THE STUDENTS TO GO AND CAUSE CHAOS ON THE STREETS OF JAKARTA?
Second, why are the students demanding that the government nationalize the gold mining company Freeport? I mean which century are they from? Are they still teaching Marxist economics in university textbooks? In fact which reality are they from? Do they really believe the government of Indonesia could actually do a better job of running a company than the company itself?
Finally, I found it rather amusing that the spokesman for the Jakarta Police, Sr. Comr Ketut Untung Yoga Ana would call on the Atma Jaya rector to do more to control the students. The rector is probably the last person they will listen to and the last person in any position to restrain them. Sorry Commander, but that's YOUR JOB! In fact, I saw the footage of the police trying to control the students and it was not very inspiring: They didn't even have proper riot gear! They should take some lessons from the cops in Hong Kong. I was in HK for the WTO Ministerial Conference in December 2005 and those boys had the situation seriously under control.
Vincent (not verified) — Wed, 06/25/2008 - 2:11pm
Violence is not necessary, and the parliament members should know better that the oil price hike is just a global phenomenon. Let's face it Government who's currently putting up an effort to reduce the initial loan simply don't have enough capabilities at the moment to cover fuel's consumptions of its citizens. Seems like the politician just look forward to use this opportunity to increase their popularity.
Could it be because they are worried of the corruption scandals currently undergoing the legal process? Maybe, maybe not. We're just never know