Riots Sparked by Price Hikes Continue in Indonesia; 6 Reported Killed

Riots in the north Sumatran capital of Medan shook Indonesia for a third consecutive day Wednesday, with local reporters saying at least six people were killed in blazing buildings or by gunfire from security forces.

Mobs looted and burned shops and vehicles as financial markets tumbled on fears that the violence might spread throughout the nation of 200 million people.

Despite Indonesia’s economic and political woes, the government said President Suharto will attend a summit of 15 developing nations in Cairo next week. Suharto’s Egypt trip will also include a two-day state visit.

Suharto last left Indonesia for an extended visit to southern Africa, Canada and Saudi Arabia in November, after which he was seriously ill for several weeks.

The violence in Medan was triggered by Monday’s announcement of price increases for fuel, transportation and electricity.

Journalists in the city of 2 million reported seeing at least two people shot and wounded. Local reporters said at least six people were killed in Wednesday’s violence, and one man died Tuesday when he was trapped in a burning building.

On Wednesday night, hundreds of Chinese, some wearing motorcycle helmets, emerged from their stores in Medan and waved sticks at rioters, in an indication that police efforts to protect them were inadequate.

Indonesia’s wealthy Chinese minority, which dominates commerce in the mostly Muslim nation, is often targeted when social discontent boils over.

Reports from the nearby town of Lubukpakam said one person was killed in a riot there.

Demonstrations involving thousands of students were held in the capital, Jakarta, and elsewhere on the island of Java.

Witnesses said troops fired rubber bullets into the air during protests at the National University in Jakarta, but there were no other immediate reports of trouble.

Troops also replaced riot police at the Institute of Sociology and Politics in the capital in a show of force indicating that the army was taking charge in dealing with the protest movement.

More than 20,000 students gathered at three universities in Surabaya, where troops prevented them from taking their anti-government protests to the streets.

Witnesses said the students dispersed and made their way to the East Java legislative building, where they were joined by members of the public in a mass protest over prices.

Thousands of students also demonstrated in Yogyakarta, but there were no reports of trouble after a confrontation late Tuesday night.

Student confrontations with police in Medan had set the scene for the explosion of violence there, sparked by the sharp increases in fuel and transportation costs.

The United States expressed concern Wednesday about the violent demonstrations, and the State Department advised Americans to avoid travel to Medan and to exercise caution in visiting Indonesia.

Political and diplomatic analysts said it was unclear how the situation in Medan might affect the rest of the country, where student protest movements have so far lacked cohesion and national leadership.

The armed forces have warned students against a descent into anarchy and to restrict their protests--in which they have called for quick political and economic reforms and an end to Suharto’s three-decade rule--to campuses.