Fuel rise protesters attacked and arrested - urgent appeal for solidarity

Papernas
May 21, Jakarta - Commemorating a decade of Suharto's fall and protesting against government's plan to increase fuel price, some organisations from the People Accuse Front (FRM) that had stayed overnight in the Proclamation Monument, like LMND and GMNK, joined with other groups of demonstrators and action fronts in the Hotel Indonesia roundabout.
At about 2 pm, the crowd reached up to 6,000 and marched to State Palace. Masses from FRM positioned themselves in the front line and the entire crowd chanted yells demanding the president to make a decree that nationalise oil, gas, and mining industry to meet domestic need for fuel. In front of State Palace, pushings between protesters and police turned into a major clash as police repressed the crowd and arrested 18 students from LMND, FAMRED, and GMNK. Up until now, nobody has been released.
A student from University of Indonesia also reportedly suffered from a shot wound in the stomach and is currently being hospitalised.

Bima, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB):
Protesters from LMND, SMI, and BPM STKIP Bima started their protest in the morning by marching from STKIP Bima to a major intersection in the city. When performing theatrical protest, some police came and ordered them to dismiss themselves because of not having any permit. When protesters started to head to the Municipal Parliament, police dispersed the crowd, causing clashes and arrest against 11 people with dozens wounded. Up until now, nobody has been released.

Manado, North Sulawesi:
Three activists were arrested by police, of which one was from PRD. Nobody has been released.

Please send your solidarity and support by sending your protest demanding that the detainees be released to the address below:

Indonesia National Police Headquarters Fax: +62-21-7218144
SMS: +62-818-315703
Email: info@polri.go.id

List of Acronyms:
PRD - People's Democratic Party - Partai Rakyat Demokrasi
FAMRED - Students' Action Front for Reform and Democracy - Front Aksi Mahasiswa untuk Reformasi dan Demokrasi
GMNK - Nationalist Popular Students' Movement - Gerakan Mahasiswa Nasional Kerakyatan
LMND - National Students' League for Democracy - Liga Mahasiswa Nasional untuk Demokrasi
SMI - Indonesia Stundents' Union - Serikat Mahasiswa Indonesia
BPM STKIP - Students' Representatives Body of Higher School for
Education Knowledge - Badan Perwakilan Mahasiswa dari Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pendidikan

PAPERNAS: THE NATIONAL LIBERATION PARTY OF UNITY
Jln. Tebet Dalam IIG No. 1, Jakarta
Selatan, 12820.Indonesia.
Phone/Fax: +62-21-8354513.
Email: papernas@yahoo.com.
Blog/Website: http://papernas-international.blogspot.com/

Update from Rudi Hartono, LMND May 22, 2008:
30 activists and LMND members arrested. in Ternate, Maluku, 14 LMND members arrested and by tens wounded. In Manado, North Sulawesi, 3 activist from LMND (Irwan Hayun and Aman) and People Democratic Party (PRD) arrested. 
In Bima, Nusa Tenggara Barat, 11 LMND members arrested by police when they began their rally.
In front of the President Palace in Jakarta, two LMND members and 16 from Front Rakyat Menggugat (FRM) were arrested after clashes with police.

Contact person:
Rudi Hartono
National Executive LMND

+6221-835-4513 or email: arahkiri2009@yahoo.com