TANAKA IN INDONESIA Troops open fire on protesters

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 13

TANAKA IN INDONESIA Troops open fire on protesters

CV.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

DJAKARTA, January 15.

Troops opened fire in Djakarta today when Indonesian students smashed windows of a Japanese car showroom and set fire to other cars parked in streets in protest against the visit of the Prime Minister of Japan (Mr Kakuei Tanaka).

Armoured cars and troops ringed approaches to Indonesia’s State guest house where the Prime Minister is staying. They have been there since he arrived to start his visit last night.

About 500 students attacked Indonesia’s sole agent for Japan’s Toyota cars. They then set fire to cars parked nearby before the shooting started.

They hurled stones at the shop’s plate glass windows, then turned to cars parked in the street and set them on fire before watching troops could intervene. The soldiers then opened fire. There were no immediate reports of casualties. About three miles away hundreds of other students and youths turned over at least five Japanese-made cars outside the Reuter office. One was set on fire and two others toppled into a canal.

As the demonstrators — who were waving Indonesian flags — moved on, thick smoke could be seen coming from a building they had apparently set on fire. N.Z.P.A.-Reuter reported

that armoured cars and troops earlier today ringed the approaches to the state guest house where Mr Tanaka is staying. The main square in front of the Presidential Palace next to the guest house was blocked off by troops, armed with machine-guns and automatic rifles.

Helicopters circled overhead after student demonstrations against Mr Tanaka’s visit when he arrived last night. Last night the Government announced that it would crack down on further demonstrations but this morning students started gathering at university grounds and said that they would go

ahead with plans to hold protests.

Security measures around the guest house were the tightest for any visiting Head Of Government.

The Defence and Security Minister (General Maraden Panggabean) told reporters last night that the Government now regarded student street protests as treason and would take firm steps to deal with them.

He said that President Suharto had held a dialogue with students last Friday and in recent weeks students had been allowed to present petitions, issue statements, and hold small street demonstrations.

Mr Tanaka began talks with President Suharto this morning, seeking to convince the Indonesian leader of Japan’s desire to establish workable and mutually beneficial relationships with this country. The troops, massed at the national monument on a square facing Merdeka Palace, pushed back the student demonstrators who were trying to make their way to the palace. Some students were hit with rifle butts, and some hurled bricks and stones at th j soldiers. One soldier was seen being led away, bleeding profusely from the head. After being turned back at the monument, the students retreated and took another route leading toward the palace. One student leader, waving his arms, shouted to the troops that students would storm the palace. “Thousands and thousands of our friends will surround the palace,” he declared. The entire area around the palace was cordoned off by troops and armoured cars after instructions from authorities to keep students away from the Palace while Mr Tanaka and President Suharto were meeting. There had been minor demonstrations when Mr Tanaka arrived in Djakarta, and more had been expected when he went to the Palace today for his meeting with President Suharto.