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Students to face charges for burning police motorbike
Jakarta Post - October 31, 2016
The police said they regretted that the incident had taken place during a rally held to commemorate Youth Pledge Day.
Upon learning about the incident, South Sulawesi Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono inspected the scene of the crime on Friday night for a talk and coordination with the university rectorate.
"We regret the incident in which students set six police motorcycles on fire although the police had actually arrived to keep the situation in order," Gatot said, adding that the incident had caused at least Rp 90 million (US$6,800) in losses.
He said students were allowed to stage rallies to voice their aspirations, however they must avoid anarchic behavior such as setting motorcycles on fire or vandalizing state facilities and bringing knives. Arson constituted a crime and as such the perpetrators would be brought to court, he added.
Gatot said the police had identified the perpetrators but refused to disclose their names publicly. "We know the identities of the perpetrators and are coordinating with the rectorate. We are currently focusing on keeping the situation peaceful," he said. As of Saturday afternoon, the police had not yet arrested the suspects.
On Friday, Makassar Muhammadiyah University students commemorated Youth Pledge Day by rallying in front of their campus on Jl. Sultan Alauddin, Makassar, South Sulawesi.
The event, however, was marred by a clash between protesters and police officers. The students expressed their rage by burning down six police patrol motorcycles on the roadside and dumping another into a ditch.
During the incident, the students also blocked Jl. Sultan Alauddin, which connects Makassar city and Gowa regency in the province's southern region, causing traffic congestion.
The students started the rally at about 1 p.m. local time by blocking a lane on the street. As it was causing traffic congestion, the campus told them to open the blockade. They rejected the request and then blocked the whole street.
Not long after that seven police officers on patrol motorcycles arrived at the site. The students greeted the police by pelting them with stones, and the officers responded by firing tear gas at the protesters.
The students rushed into the campus and attacked the police by throwing stones at them. The police parked their motorcycles in front of the residence of a well-known local figure located next to the campus.
Outnumbered, the police retreated away from the campus. It was then that the students emerged from the campus and dragged the seven motorcycles onto the street and burned six of them.
Youth Pledge Day rallies were also held on the same day in front of the Makassar State University, at the city's overpass and in front of the Makassar city council building.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/31/students-face-charges-burning-police-motorbike.html.
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