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Two arrested, 10 injured in clash between students, Jokowi supporters
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A student protester is held by police officers during a clash in front of North Sumatra Legislative Council building in Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday . The student protesters confronted another group supporting President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. (The Jakarta Post/Apriadi Gunawan)
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clash erupted on Thursday between university students and supporters of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Medan, North Sumatra, which left at least 10 people injured.
Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Dadang Hartanto said the situation was currently under control and the police were liaising with both groups.
“We are coordinating with both groups to prevent more conflicts,” he said on Thursday.
Read also: Thousands join anti-Jokowi walk in Surakarta
Dadang said the students and the Jokowi supporters were staging separate rallies at the same time in front of the North Sumatra Legislative Council building.
The affray started when Jokowi supporters delivered speeches about the unity of the Republic of Indonesia, while the student group protested about the country’s poor economic conditions.
Dadang said several students were injured and others arrested after the clash. Two student protesters were detained for allegedly vandalizing a police car.
Wira, the coordinator for the student group, which called itself the Medan University Student Movement Alliance, condemned the police’s actions.
He called on the police to release the detained students.
“We demand the police release our friends whom they arrested today,” he said.
Wira said the conflict started between the two separate rallies when an unknown person among the Jokowi supporters threw a piece of wood at the student protesters. (sau)
