SCORES OF STUDENTS SHOT AND WOUNDED IN JAKARTA ============================================== ASIET - December 18, 1998 The following summary was prepared by ASIET (Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor) based upon initial reports posted by the Committee of the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS), the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the People's Democratic Party (PRD) and Aldera (Peoples Democratic Alliance). -------------------------------------------------------------- On the afternoon of December 17 just before 5pm, student demonstrators were fired on by security forces during a clash near Semanggi, South Jakarta, while they were making their way to national parliament (MPR). The demonstrators were from a coalition of student groups including FAMRED, FORKOT, FORBES and groups from a number of other campuses. KONTRAS, who have team members on the ground, said that a significant number of students were shot and have been taken to nearby hospitals. According to reports from students at the Mintoharjo Hospital in Slipi, more than 50 students were wounded in the clash and ten are suffering serious bullet wounds. In a separate report the PRD said that the demonstration involved as many as 10,000 students and that following the clash, students scattered in the direction of Taman Ria Senayan, Slipi and the urban kampungs around Pejompongan. The PRD said that at around 6pm, other students in front of the MPR had begun building a blockade underneath the Slipi overpass in front of the Jakarta Design Centre building. They are being confronted troops from Kodam Jaya and Kostrad and expect larger clashes to breakout because of the very tense situation. CHRONOLOGY The following is a chronology compiled by Aldera dated December 18. It was translated by James Balowski, ASIET's Publications and Information Officer. 12.00 - Students from Yayasan Pendidikan Thamrin, the National University, STEKPI and Budi Luhur began gathering at the National University. 1.00pm - Students from Jayabaya, STIE Jayakarta, ABA-ABI, STIE Rawamangun, Don Bosco and Gunadarma moved off to the National University. 1.45pm - Students from FORBES set off towards the Jakarta Stock Exchange. 2.30pm - FORBES students arrived at the stock exchange and made a statement demanding the immediate trial of Suharto. 2.45pm - FORBES students joined with students from KAM-Jabotabek (Komite Aksi Mahasiswa Jakarta Bogor Tangerang Bekasi) which is made up of FORBES, FORKOT, FKSMJ, Front Jakarta and FAMRED. 4.00pm - The students prepared their ranks for a "long-march" to the parliament building. 4.30pm - The demonstrators moved off and clashed with security forces which resulted in the military running in disarray toward the government television station TVRI. 5.00pm - The military (Kostrad and mobile brigade troops) began shoting at the demonstrators using rubber bullets, live ammunition and tear gas. 5.30pm - The troops began beating and chasing the demonstrators who fought back by throwing rocks. 6.00pm - The demonstrators began evacuating women and those who were wounded to the Atmajaya University while others continued to battle with troops. 7.00pm - A student team carried out a sweep of the roads leading to the parliament and it was emptied of students. as many as 85 students were mildly and seriously wounded and are being treated at the Mintohardjo and Saint Carolous hospitals. KAM-Jabotabek students held a press conference. They informed the press that two bus loads of students from the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) were shot at by the military and that UKI was attacked and that other students were intercepted [by the military] and are returning to their separate campuses. KAM-Jabotabek demands: 1. Withdrawal the social and political role of the armed forces; 2. Form a transitional, democratic government to try Suharto and hold free and fair elections. ********************************************************** Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) PO Box 458, Broadway NSW 2007 Australia Phone: 61-(0)2-96901230 Fax : 61-(0)2-96901381 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WWW : http://www.peg.apc.org/~asiet/ Free Xanana Gusmao, Budiman Sujatmiko and Dita Sari! Free all political prisoners in Indonesia and East Timor! ********************************************************** Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/
