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Police continue hunt for car vandals from student rally

Source
Jakarta Post - July 9, 2008

Indah Setiawati, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police have received photographs of more alleged vandals who damaged cars during a student protest in front of Atma Jaya university, Central Jakarta, last month.

"We received pictures of six fugitives from our officers who witnessed the protests. We call on people to contact police if they recognize the fugitives or have information about them," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana told reporters Tuesday.

He said police could not confirm whether the fugitives were students. The police had previously named six of the alleged car vandals, but have so far not arrested any of them.

A group of around 1,000 people, including students, graduates, activists and paid thugs on June 24 staged a protest in front of Atma Jaya University in response to being refused entrance to the House of Representatives during a plenary session discussing the government's fuel increases.

During the protests, nine cars were damaged, including one that was completely burned out. The protesters also broke down a section of gate outside of the House of Representatives on Jl. Gatot Subroto, Central Jakarta, and vandalized public property on Plaza 89 in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

The students also protested against the death of National University student Maftuh Fauzi, who died on June 20 from injuries sustained a month earlier in a clash with police on his campus in South Jakarta.

Five riot suspects are currently under custody at the city police headquarters, while the allegedly financier of the protests, Ferry Yuliantono, is being held at the National Police headquarters.

Police are still calling on graduates, including activists involved in the 1998 protest against late former president Suharto, to come forward as witnesses.

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