254 Students, 39 Police Fall Victim to Clash at DPR

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Metro Police Chief Insp. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono said as many as 39 police officers fell victim to the clash at the House of Representatives (DPR) building on Tuesday, September 24. They were reportedly injured during the incident.

"They have been hit by stones and arrows, some of them have their hands broken and are now being hospitalized," Gatot said at a press conference in his office on Wednesday, September 25.

The number of injured victims among students was far more than that of police. According to him, a total of 254 students sustained injuries. Most of them have undergone medical treatment, and 11 others were hospitalized in several Jakarta hospitals.

"The students were exposed to tear gas. [The injuries] may be caused by the chaos as they ran away and so on. We are still investigating the root," Gatot added.

The Police Chief further said the police have arrested 94 people who were suspected as rioters. According to him, one of them was found to carry Molotov cocktails. At present, the investigation is still afoot.

"We will sort out their whereabouts, whether from university students, public, or other parties," Gatot said.

The student demonstrations from various universities at the DPR building aimed to reject a number of bills which were deemed problematic to be annulled. The protest led to riots on Tuesday afternoon, September 24. The mass pelted stones, firecrackers, and wood log to attack the police, while the security officers fired tear gas and water cannons at students.

M YUSUF MANURUNG