Precedence: bulk Volunteers for Humanity Team member shot by Security Forces JAKARTA, SiaR (15 Sept l999). An anti-violence demonstration in support of the people of East Timor which took place on Jl. Thamrin, Jakarta, Wednesday, 15 September was met with violent confrontation by Indonesian security forces. Asas Tigor Nainggolan, one of the demonstrators, was shot by the forces in his thigh and back. He is now being treated at the St. Carolus hospital, where he underwent surgery. The demonstration organised by the Volunteers for Humanity in East Timor was joined by around 100 people. After gathering in the grounds of the Sarinah Thamrin shopping centre, they planned to march to the Indonesian Military/Department of Defense and Security headquarters on Merdeka Square to protest the violence in East Timor, Aceh, Ambon and several other areas. They also carried a giant painting with the words STOP THE SLAUGHTER, and SOS EAST TIMOR. But after marching to the front of the Sarinah department store, the demonstrators, who included workers for humanity, lawyers, people in arts and culture, parents of the victims of the May violence and November l998 shootings of students, and street children were stopped by security forces. The demonstrators found themselves gradually being squeezed between hundreds of troops. Suddenly, the security forces began to push the demonstrators so that they fell. Immediately, when they realised that the situation was not in their favour, the demonstrators ran to save themselves. When a number of them ran towards the McDonald's restaurant, the police tried to push into the restaurant. They swing their rattan batons and broke the McDonald windows. Gunshots were heard for several minutes. Tigor, who tried to calm the masses from the top of his car, was suddenly pulled down and fell to the ground. In this defenseless position, he was beaten repeatedly by the police. When he seized the chance to escape, he ran to find his vehicle but was pursued. When they caught him, Tigor, a lawyer, again was beaten. He escaped again and tried to get into a taxi but a bullet hit his back. He fell to the ground with wounds in the back and thigh. A number of others were injured. Some of the victims were taken away by the police, while others were able to save themselves. Over the last few days, security forces have been very harsh and coarse in dealing with demonstrators, and particularly demonstrators who are against military violence and against the Emergency Laws. During the past three days, security forces have resorted to beatings and shooting. On Wednesday (15 Sept), besides the demonstration organised by the Volunteers for Humanity at Jl. Thamrin, demonstrators at Senayan (near the Parliament building) were pursued, beaten and detained. The night before, rounds of gunfire were heard during an attack on university students at the Christian University (UKI) at Cawang.*** ---------- SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html
