DATE=9/24/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA / PROTEST (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-254287
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Four people were reported dead Friday in
Jakarta, after two days of bloody protests over
the Indonesian parliament's approval of new
powers for the military. As Amy Bickers reports,
the riots are the worst in the country since the
start of the year, leaving more than 100 people
injured.
Text:
/// GUN SHOT SOUND UP AND UNDER ///
Gunshots rang out over Jakarta's main boulevard
Friday, as police fired what appeared to be
rubber bullets at protestors, from the windows of
office buildings overlooking the street.
More than 100 people have been reported injured
in the two days of violence that followed
Parliament's passage of a controversial security
bill Thursday. Protestors say the bill - approved
with the support of outgoing members of
parliament from the Suharto era -- gives the
armed forces expanded powers. It would allow the
military to revoke civil liberties in emergency
situations.
/// PROTEST NOISE UP AND UNDER ///
On Friday, students and pro-democracy activists
were joined by local residents and high school
students. Together they set vehicles and tires
alight and lobbed Molotov cocktails and stones at
rows of riot police.
The riots caused the closure of banks and offices
in the central business district. Shopping
centers, the target of violent demonstrations
last year, were shut. One of the city's main
thoroughfares was also closed down.
The head of the armed forces, General Wiranto,
issued a warning to protestors, saying his troops
will take strong actions against any anarchy. He
told members of parliament that the military
suspects the some people are inciting the
violence to cause chaos. (Signed)
NEB/AB/GC/FC
24-Sep-1999 07:07 AM LOC (24-Sep-1999 1107 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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