Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The National University (Unas) has welcomed lawmakers' support for the release of students who have been in police custody since a clash between police and student protesters at the campus on Saturday.

About 20 Unas students visited the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs on Monday. "We have come here to voice our three demands," said Ali Nugroho of Unas' student representative body.

"We urge the police to release our friends who were arrested on Saturday. We strongly condemn the police actions, which must be prosecuted. We demand compensation for Unas assets that were damaged and rehabilitation of the university's reputation," he said.

"If these demands are not met, we will mobilize in greater forces."

On Saturday morning, police arrested at least 140 protesters after the two sides began pelting bottles and rocks at each other at the Unas campus in Pejaten, South Jakarta.

Students and alumni had gathered from Friday night to protest against the government's decision to increase fuel prices. According to students, the police forced their way onto campus and assaulted the protesters, including women, before arresting them.

Police said they had made the arrests after the protesters turned violent and in response to complaints from local residents the protest was interfering with dawn prayers.

Police initially arrested at least 140 students, but detained only 31 for further investigation over the clash and for alleged drug use.

In response to the Unas students' demands, Commission III is considering setting up a fact-finding team.

"We will gather more information, including from the police and from our own on-site inspections. We hope to reach a decision about this team in two or three days," head of Commission III Trimedya Panjaitan said.

Unas rector Umar Basalin also met House Speaker Agung Laksono on Monday. He said suspected outsiders had provoked the students' actions.

"Our investigation found some of the people detained by the police were not our students," he said. He said police had overreacted in the incident, but he also urged them to immediately investigate two grenades found on campus.

Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo said he regretted the protest, but added the police action was to protect other citizens, who were disturbed by the protest. "It is one of the roles of the police to take action against outlaws; there is no police-free area in the country when it comes to criminal acts," he said.

Bambang said his ministry had contacted other rectors in anticipation of other similar incidents. "I told them on the phone that rallies were okay but asked them please not to do things that might disrupt public order or violate regulations, and please not to commit any crimes," he said.

Bambang acknowledged he had not contacted Unas. "The director general for higher education has since contacted Unas' deputy rector in regard to the incident. In the end it is Unas' rector who must be take responsibility for what happened at his campus," he said. (alf)