INDONESIA: JAKARTA: POLICE & TROOPS BLOCK STUDENTS MARCH

Описание: (5 Oct 1998) Natural Sound

Dozens of police and troops have blocked a street march by about 300 students demanding an end to the Indonesian military's role in politics.

The protesters, carrying banners and placards got within 200 metres (yards) of the national Parliament building in Jakarta.

But they were stopped by four lines of security personnel under an overpass, resulting in some minor scuffles and a major traffic jam.

The protest coincided with celebrations marking the 53rd anniversary of the founding of Indonesia's military.

Marching against the military.

Some 300 Indonesian student protesters heading down a main road in Jakarta towards the national Parliament building.

They're protesting against the army's role in the country's politics.

These scuffles followed when police and troops blocked their way just within sight of the Parliament.

There were no reports of injuries or arrests.

In another anti-military protest police and troops stopped about 60 young professional workers from marching from the centre of Jakarta to the nearby military headquarters.

Many of the group had painted their faces or wore Halloween skull masks to symbolise human rights abuses by troops.

This all came on the same day as the military celebrated its 53rd anniversary.

Here President B. J. Habibie reviews troops at a base in the capital.

This year's army day celebrations were fairly modest.

That's largely a reflection of the Asian economic crisis that hit Indonesia particularly harshly, helping bring down former autocratic President Suharto.

Under Suharto the military was accused of widespread human rights abuses.

But since Suharto stepped down amid riots and protests in May, senior commanders have promised to improve the professionalism of soldiers.

They have said, however, that the dual function policy -- under which the military has 75 seats allocated to it in the 500-member national Parliament -- will be maintained.

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