Riots continue in Indonesia

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33435, 17 January 1974, Page 15

Riots continue in Indonesia

•V.Z. Press Association —Copyright)

DJAKARTA, January 16. Thousands of students went on the rampage in Djakarta today for the second day, expanding a protest against Japanese economic penetration to Chinese immigrants who control much of Indonesia’s commercial life, the Associated Press said. There was no immediate word on casualties today, but officials at the Central Hospital said that seven students' were killed and 49 wounded in the rioting yesterday’ started by the xisit of the Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Kakuei Tanaka). Mr Tanaka, scheduled to leave for home tomorrow, spent a quiet morning with his daughter, Makiko, at the Guest House in the grounds of the Presidential Palace. More than 1000 armed troops ringed the palace compound, and armoured cars were posted at each corner.

High school students smashed up shops and restaurants owned by Chinese Indonesians near the Hotel Indonesia.

"Smash anyone who exploits our country and elimi-

[nate Indonesians who protect them,” one of the leaders of the mob yelled. “We are fighting to bring I down prices and make sure : Indonesia’s wealth belongs to [ Indonesians,” said another.

Truckloads of troops were rushed in to keep the mob from moving on several international hotels nearby. Another 1000 students tried to storm into the office of the city’s military governor, Lieutenant-General Ali Sadikin. But troops with fixed bayonets forced them away. A small group then ran to a nearby amusement park where they damaged several establishments. The Defence Minister,} Genera] Maraden Pangga-: bean, led some 200 troops in dispersing another mob of| about 5000 students and others massing around a modern four-storey market centre that was burned in rioting last night. Mr Tanaka arrived on Monday for the last stop of a five-nation tour of SouthEast Asia. The next morning, as he conferred with President Suharto at Freedom Palace, more than 5000 students went on a rampage through the streets when the Army prevented them from marching on the palace. The mobs destroyed about 100 Japanese cars and rnotor-

} cycles, smashed the windows of shops that displayed Japanese advertising and hurled 1 bricks and stones at the I soldiers. The troops hit back with their bayonets and gun butts, but it was not known how often they opened fire. Hospital officials said six students were killed by gunfire and one from bayoneting. Mr Tanaka has been dogged by student protests during his 10-day South-East Asian tour, of which this is the last stage. Earlier he visited the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.