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11 students arrested after violent protest against police

Source
Jakarta Globe - October 20, 2012

Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Zaky Pawas & Ulin Yusron – Eleven students from Pamulang University have been arrested after a violent protest against the presence of National Police Deputy Chief Comr. Gen. Nanan Sukarna at the university campus in South Tangerang on Thursday.

Nanan had been invited by the university to give a lecture on Thursday morning. The students said they conducted the protest because they did not like the police institution, citing its latest conflict with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over investigations into a driving simulator scandal implicating several high-ranking police officials.

Earlier reports said five police officers and at least one student were injured after the protest staged by approximately 100 Pamulang University (Unpam) students turned violent.

The police identified Y.R., an Unpam graduate, as the provocateur who used E.F., a law student, to gather other students to take part in the demonstration.

"Y.R., is from Sukabumi, West Java. He's a graduate of Unpam and he graduated two years ago. He was the one who organized and led [the protesters]. He's the one that was [interviewed by] TVOne," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said on Friday.

The Jakarta Police arrested nine students from the campus area, including R.S., an industrial engineering student who was caught carrying a sharp weapon.

Police investigators said 10 of the students were charged for provocation and violence while R.S. is facing another charge of violating the emergency law on possession of weapons. The investigation is ongoing.

Dedi Darwis, the coordinator of the Indonesian Student National Consolidation, said the students were arrested at 10 p.m. on Thursday after the violent protest that took place throughout the day

"They were about to leave [the campus] on their motorcycles, but police arrested them one by one," Dedi said, adding that the arrest was made by dozens of police officers carrying rifles and tear gas.

"You shut up; don't say too much. You come with us to the [police] office," Dedi quoted the police as saying.

Meanwhile, the National Student League for Democracy (LMND) recorded more than 100 cases of violence involving police officers that killed at least 20 people.

"The police are under heavy public scrutiny because of the violence that occurred recently. Most of the cases involved violence committed by the officers who acted excessively in handling the people's protests," Arif Fachrudin, the executive chairman of LMND, told Beritasatu.com on Thursday.

"What the students of Pamulang University did was an outcome of distrust toward the Indonesian police institutions which have in the past few years been showing ruthlessness, violence and arbitrariness against civilians," Arif said.

He added that the students were rejecting the police's arrogance, saying that it was astonishing to see that the increasing number of incidents of violence involving police occurred amid the efforts to reform the institution.

Arif said that the police should change how they carry out their duties as the people's servants, guides and protectors.

"You can't blame the Pamulang students for rejecting Nanan and linking his track record to his contribution to criminalize KPK official Novel Baswedan. That was enough reason [to reject Nanan]. The media had successfully raised this issue and raised the people's awareness about anticorruption," he said.

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