PMII Accuses Dark Clothed Infiltrators that Sparked Riot in Yogya

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII) said that the riot that broke out in front of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga yesterday which protested against the New Yogyakarta International Airport (NYIA) was due to infiltrators.

Following the riot, 69 people were arrested by police where 43 of them were PMII Yogyakarta members.

“A group of people wearing dark-colored clothing, jackets, and head covers suddenly entered the ranks when the general coordinator was just about to release a statement signaling an end to the protest,” said Yogyakarta PMII Chairman Faizi Zain yesterday.

As it turned out, the unknown groups of people had brought Molotov explosives and suddenly commenced several forms of vandalism onto a police post at the location.

“The unknown people also started a riot with local residents and police members,” he explained.

This caused local residents to react firmly against the violence and chased the rioters into the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogya.

Furthermore, Faizi said that the demonstration was a cross-movement alliance with members that consists of several groups such as Gerakan Aksi Satu Mei or Geram, and student alliances from several universities such as Jana Badra University, Mercu Buana University, UIN SUnan Kalijaga Yogya, Cokroaminoto Yogya University, UNY Student’s Alliance, Indonesian Student Press Association and many more.

The rally was initially meant to refuse the construction of the NYIA Airport in Kulon Progo; “We agreed to hold it as a peaceful rally without any anarchy since the beginning,” he said.

PRIBADI WICAKSONO