More Protesters Take to Streets in Indonesia

Protests erupted in Jakarta and elsewhere in Indonesia on Thursday, more of the near-daily civil unrest stemming from residents’ political and economic frustration.

In Jakarta, the capital, troops blocked more than 1,000 students from marching on the home of former President Suharto, and about 200 protesters were stopped from staging a sit-in at the attorney general’s office. Dozens more students protested outside the studios of Television Republik Indonesia, complaining about that network’s coverage of political events.

Meanwhile, angry residents of Pinrang, on the island of Sulawesi, 850 miles northeast of Jakarta, also were out en masse Thursday, a day after police and witnesses said mobs there burned local government buildings.

Although students have been demanding that Suharto be put on trial for corruption, Pinrang demonstrators are furious about other matters: Thousands of depositors of a troubled finance cooperative have been unable to get their money refunded.

Near the city of Medan on Sumatra island, troops fired warning shots Thursday when about 500 workers from two factories ransacked company offices in a dispute with management over demands for a daily food allowance.

The workers dispersed when the shots were fired.

No arrests or injuries were reported in Thursday’s demonstrations.

The official Antara news agency also reported Thursday on a protest Wednesday in the provincial city of Semarang, saying police beat students who were calling for Suharto to be put on trial. At least 54 demonstrators were injured, it said.

The surge in student protests comes as Indonesia grapples with its worst economic crisis in 30 years.

Student activists who helped oust Suharto in May have stepped up their demands that the former army general be held accountable for official wrongdoing during his 32 years of authoritarian rule.

Suharto’s successor, President B.J. Habibie, announced last week that he would set up a new inquiry into his former mentor’s wealth. A previous investigation turned up no evidence of wrongdoing--a report that critics labeled a whitewash.

Students repeatedly have tried to march to Suharto’s heavily guarded home. On Thursday, they taunted security personnel, who were armed with bamboo shields and sticks. The protesters also held up pictures of Suharto dressed as a bandit.

The standoff was in a park next to the U.S. ambassador’s residence and about half a mile from Suharto’s home.

As many as 31 people have been killed in demonstrations and riots in Jakarta in the last two weeks. The total includes at least nine students killed when security forces opened fire Nov. 13 as protesters, demanding democratic reforms, tried to march on the parliament.

In Washington, the State Department urged Indonesia to carry out its pledge to fully investigate the shootings.