Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Students and police officers clashed during a demonstration at a university in Pamulang, South Tangerang, on Thursday.

The protest occurred as deputy National Police chief Comr. Gen. Nanan Sukarna visited the university to deliver a public lecture. The students said the protest was a form of solidarity for students across the country who they claimed had become victims of police violence. Nanan was in the first minutes of his lecture when the students threw stones at police officers, forcing Nanan to leave the premises.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto condemned the incident, saying the university should have controlled its students. "They invited Pak Nanan, but they also created chaos," Rikwanto told reporters.

The police dispatched two companies of officers to keep the students inside the campus compound. Pamulang police station, which is located in front of the campus, had its windows smashed by students throwing stones, according to Rikwanto.

"Also, a Ford Ranger, Toyota Soluna, a mob control vehicle, Pak Nanan's guard vehicle and several others, were destroyed," he said. "Several Police Mobile Brigade [Brimob] officers were also injured, all of whom were rushed immediately to the nearest clinic, one with a broken finger," he added.

A number of students were also injured in the incident. One the protesters, Bernadiktus Mega Pradita, 20, said that his nose started bleeding after being beaten by officers. "I didn't clearly see who punched my face, but I believe it came from an officer who tried to prevent us from going onto the streets," Bernadiktus said.

The officer's punch sparked the other students' anger, causing chaos. They began beating the police barricade with bamboo sticks and stones.

Nanan, who was inside the crowd, reminded officers and students not to hit each other. "No police officers should hit students. No students should hit police officers. I came here with good intentions," Nanan said briefly while walking toward the rector's office.

The students' protest turned even uglier as Nanan left the crowd. They threw stones to the police who responded with tear gas. The incident caused a three-hour-long traffic jam on the roads heading to and from Pamulang.

The situation returned to normal at around 11 a.m., after a number of local residents talked with the protesting students. "The students agreed to dispurse as long as the police retreated," said Suryadi, a local resident.

Boma Angkasa, a law student at the university, claimed that his friends protested against the presence of police personnel on their campus, showing solidarity to other universities that have witness police-related violence recently.

"This is in relation to the police's crimes against our friends in Cianjur, Bima, Cirebon. Police have been attacking students. We have vowed not to let officers enter our campus," he said as quoted by kompas.com. (fzm)