Jakarta – Student protests in Jakarta on Tuesday turned violent, leaving at least 18 people injured and causing massive traffic jams that brought areas of the city to a virtual standstill.

Several students were detained and questioned at Jakarta Police Headquarters.

At least 1,000 students gathered at the gates of the House of Representatives building, demanding they be allowed to take part in a plenary session being held to discuss the government's fuel price policy.

They also voiced solidarity with National University student Maftuh Fauzi, who died on June 20 a month after being involved in a clash with police on the university's South Jakarta campus.

The protesters blocked a section of Jl. Gatot Subroto, leaving only one lane available for vehicles.

They burned tires in the street in front of the House and clashed with police when officers moved in to arrest the more violent protesters. Police used water cannons on the protesters, who responded by pelting the officers with stones.

"We just want to enter the House building to persuade lawmakers to vote to question the government over its fuel price policy. We hope by using their right to inquiry, they can annul the government's fuel price hike policy," one of the leaders of the student protesters, Lalu Hilman Afriandi, said.

He said several students attempted to enter the House compound through a back gate, located on Jl. Gelora, but security guards blocked them. "We tried to enter the building but we failed. That's why many students were angry," he said.

During the plenary session, 233 of 360 lawmakers voted for an inquiry into the government's fuel price policy.

Another protest in front of Atma Jaya University, on Jl. Sudirman, also turned violent as students searched for government cars before burning one vehicle.

Students and activists also protested at the Jl. Rasuna Said office of copper and gold mining company Freeport, demanding the government nationalize the company. The protesters halted the operation of TransJakarta buses serving the Kuningan-Ragunan route.

The rallies caused massive traffic jams, forcing office workers to seek alternative routes home. Nine cars were damaged during the protests, including one that was completely burned out.

Commenting on the violent protests, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana called on the Atma Jaya University rector to do more to control students.

He said police detained five students over the violence. "The rector told us to take all necessary measures to secure the protest," he said. (ind)