Novy Lumanaw & Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – Two students were killed during a rally in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Thursday while protesting the passing of a controversial bill by the House of Representatives earlier this week.
A 23-year-old woman, who is six months pregnant, was struck in the leg by a stray bullet while sleeping in her home about 3 kilometers from the scene.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Mohammad Iqbal said autopsies showed that one of the victims, identified as Rendy (21), a student at the city's Halu Oleo University, had a bullet wound to the chest. No projectile was found. The second victim, identified as Yusuf Kardawi (19), also of Halu Oleo University, died in hospital from a head injury.
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has dispatched two investigation teams to Kendari on Friday. One of the teams will conduct an internal investigation.
"A police team is working with the university and all affected parties to find the cause of death of the two students," Iqbal said. "Ballistic tests will be conducted and witnesses will be questioned."
The spokesman said police were only armed with water cannons and tear gas during the protest.
University and high school students have held rallies in several cities since Monday against approval by the national legislature of a revision to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law, which many believe will weaken the national antigraft agency. Some also protested an amendment to the country's Criminal Code.
However, some of the rallies turned violent, prompting Chief Security Minister Wiranto to state that the protests had been hijacked by sinister forces seeking to prevent President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo from being sworn in for a second term on Oct. 20.
Condolences
Jokowi has expressed his condolences to relatives of the two students. "On behalf of the government, my deepest condolences on the passing of Randy and Yusuf Kardawi," he said in Jakarta on Friday.
The president said he had ordered the National Police chief to launch a thorough investigation into the incident. "There is no order [for police] to be armed when responding to rallies. So there will be further investigations," he said.
He reiterated that police are under orders not to act in a repressive manner when responding to protests, as the 1945 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression.