DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST SUSILO TURN UGLY

from AHMAD FUAD YAHYA

JAKARTA, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Thousands of demonstrators converged in front of
Istana Negara to mark the first anniversary of President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono's second term in office.

The protest turned ugly when they refused to follow orders forcing police to
fire at least eight warning shots.

Trouble also broke out in the student demonstration in Jalan Diponegoro, Menteng
after they pelted police with stones and burnt tyres.

It only ended after police opened fire hitting a student in the leg.

The People Democratic Front (Bendera) also held a demonstration in front of its
office in Jalan Diponegoro.

The demonstrators respresent several groups including undergraduates, human
rights activists and academicians.

They were demanding a review of Susilo's performance and that of the government
which had been in power for six years.

The Indonesian Muslim Undergraduates Movement called on Susilo to step down as
the people had suffered under him.

It demanded that the government resolve the massive corruption that rescued
Century Bank and believed that vice-president Boediono and former finance
minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati were involved.

The demonstrators torched flags and t-shirts of Partai Demokrat, Susilo's party
that controls the Indonesian parliament.
-- BERNAMA