Jakarta – City police have begun investigations into police officers involved in a clash with student protesters at National University (Unas) at Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.
"The internal affairs and security division called on the officers this morning," said police spokesperson Snr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana on Monday.
He said he did not have the data for the number of police questioned. Head of the internal affairs and security division Sr. Comr. Syaiful Bachri refused to talk to reporters when he was contacted on his mobile phone.
Ketut said the police were continuing to investigate the Unas case and expected coordination and cooperation from the campus.
"We cannot carry out the investigation inside the campus now as we're still waiting for the rector's permission. After that, we may also deploy some precinct police officers to handle the inspection," he said.
On Saturday morning, police arrested around 150 people, mostly Unas students, after both sides threw bottles and stones at each other on campus. Four officers and 14 students were badly injured after violence broke out.
The students had gathered Friday evening to protest against the government's decision to increase fuel prices.
On Sunday, the police tested students for drugs and named 55 of them drug users, three dealers and 31 as having committed violent acts. They released the remainder.
The National Commission on Human Rights established a special team to investigate the case. On Monday afternoon, around 30 college students of the Indonesian Christian University staged a demonstration on Jl. Mayjen Sutoyo, East Jakarta. They also burned rubber tires, which affected traffic flow from Cililitan to Kebon Nanas in East Jakarta, stopping vehicles from passing.
The peace protest turned violent and the congestion on the street worsened when the students began throwing stones at the police officers. The students rushed back to their campus when police attempted to control the demonstration.
Operational division head Sr. Comr Budi Winarso said he deployed more personnel to help the East Jakarta precinct police handle the demonstration. (ind)