Campus clash in Jakarta

Campus clash in Jakarta

Troops and police have attacked protesting students, injuring several and wrecking various parts of the National Science and Technology Institute campus in the capital.

According to a statement issued by the Students Solidarity for Democracy in Indonesia (a coalition of campus student organisations and the Indonesian affiliate of the Asian Students' Association), the assault took place at 1.00 a.m. on June 24.

The students had been protesting for the previous two days over the cost of lecture fees at private universities. The minimum cost is approximately $1000 per year, with many courses costing much more. These are huge amounts for the thousands of students seeking enrolment in the scores of private tertiary institutes.

In recent weeks, the new minister for education and culture has proclaimed that education should be more open to market forces, encouraging the charging of exorbitant prices.

Several hundred students had begun their protest. The university administrators refused to discuss the issue of fees, and the police were called in.

The students were unable to leave the campus until the raid by a combined force of army and police. More than 50 students were arrested and beaten outside the campus. Two were later found, severely injured, in paddy fields and were taken to hospital.

Student groups from other cities are now planning a follow-up demonstration outside the national parliament.

From GLW issue 105