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Hundreds of students demand Indonesian police chief resign

Detik.com - May 4, 2004

Dian Intannia, Jakarta – Actions by police on the campus of the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) in Makassar, South Sulawesi continue to attract protests.

In Jakarta on Tuesday May 4, hundreds of student from the Greater Family of Students from the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (KBM UIN) arrived at the national police headquarters on Jalan Trunojoyo in 10 metro mini busses.

The solidarity action with the UMI students was also joined by a number of non-government organisations from the United Opposition Front (Barisan Oposisi Bersatu, BOB) who closed off Jalan Trunojoyo, particularly in the direction of Jalan Wolter Monginsidi.

The demonstrators called for the violence at UMI to be fully investigated. As the party which is most responsible for various acts of violence which have occurred, KBM UIN also demanded that Indonesian police chief General Da’i Bachtiar resign.

A white banner around 50 meters long was unfurled by demonstrators which was filled with thousands of signatures rejecting violence on university campuses. “End militarism in universities” called the demonstrators.

The action was tightly guarded by five police units. Although two groups of demonstrators competed to get in front, the demonstration proceeded in an orderly manner. A number of demonstrators gave speeches from the back of a vehicle which was being uses as a makeshift stage. (djo)

[Translated by James Balowski.]