Chris McCall, Jakarta – Radical students went on an anti-military rampage in Jakarta yesterday and police were ordered to stand aside for fear of unleashing worse violence.
Hundreds of students from the City Forum network attacked military and police targets near the prestigious University of Indonesia campus. Five military vehicles, including a bus, were set on fire, and the streets were left littered with debris after they hurled rocks for several hours.
One of the biggest outbreaks of unrest in the capital since President Abdurrahman Wahid was elected in October, the violence followed clashes between security forces and protesters on Thursday near the house of disgraced former president Suharto, whom the students generally despise. By mid-afternoon, seven hours after the students began their attacks, police were still keeping their distance as dozens of onlookers picked over the vehicles for anything they could carry away and students handed out anti-violence leaflets nearby. Graffiti daubed in red paint over a sign at the University of Indonesia declared it a "Military-Free Zone".
Police said they had decided to withdraw and allow the mob to run riot in the hope they would let off steam. "We regret this. This is a democracy, but if they don't show a democratic attitude it is very regretful. If you want to demonstrate, please use goodwill and wisdom," said Lieutenant-Colonel Zainuri Lubis, spokesman for the Jakarta police.
Other student protest groups said the violence would cost them public support. "This is not good at all. It is going to make people stop sympathising with us," said an activist from the protest network Famred, which was not involved in yesterday's violence.
Witnesses said the students' operation was sparked by a raid by security forces late on Thursday on a campus. Their main demand, however, is for a speedy trial on corruption charges for Mr Suharto.
Defence Minister Juwono Sudarsono last night urged protesters to avoid violence, warning of anarchy and stressing that trying Mr Suharto was a matter for the Attorney-General, not a kangaroo court.
Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman has recently speeded up his efforts, vowing to lay the results of a probe into corruption by the former leader before a court by August 10. There were rumours yesterday that Mr Wahid may sack Mr Darusman for his handling of this and other sensitive unfinished business from Indonesia's autocratic past.
Official sources said Mr Wahid had been widely advised to replace Mr Darusman, and several potential candidates were in the running to take over, although it would probably not happen for several months. "He is too slow," one source said, adding Mr Darusman would probably go gracefully.
Mr Suharto has been declared a suspect in a case involving alleged misuse of funds at charities he once controlled. Now 78 and recovering from a stroke, which has affected his speech, he denies any wrongdoing and his lawyers argue the probe should be dropped on health grounds.
Yesterday, truckloads of riot police armed with sticks and batons sealed off the entry to Cendana street, the posh central Jakarta location from which Mr Suharto ran Indonesia like a personal fiefdom for decades. The words "Try Suharto" were daubed in white on the street in front of dozens of officers controlling access to Cendana in case of further demonstrations.
Mr Darusman wants the ousted autocrat moved from his home into virtual house arrest in a government-controlled facility. Mr Suharto's lawyers have vowed to resist.