Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – A purge has taken place in the top ranks of the Indonesian police force after a bloody clash last week between students and security forces in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

Two provincial police chiefs were removed from their posts in two days in a rare move that many speculate was part of the Megawati Sukarnoputri administration's attempt to salvage its image.

More than 30 officers were detained for questioning in the wake of a public outcry over the assault on student protesters at the campus of Indonesian Muslim University in Makassar last Saturday.

More that 60 students were severely wounded in the clash. Thousands of students across Indonesia took to the streets to protest against police brutality.

On Monday, South Sulawesi police chief Jusuf Manggabrani was replaced following the dismissal of another high-ranking officer in Makassar and given a desk job in Jakarta.

The next day, in a case separate from the Makassar incident, national police chief Dai Bachtiar dismissed Maluku police chief Brigadier-General Binto a clash as the students quickly fled to the nearby School of Economics and Management (STIEM) Bungaya.

"If students want to demonstrate, that's fine. But they should not block the road because it will disrupt our activities. The students should also leave Jusuf's family members alone, for they have nothing to do with the UMI case," said one of residents.