A DEMONSTRATION BY INDONESIAN STUDENTS AGAINST RISING PRICES ENDED IN RIOTING OUTSIDE PRESIDENT SUKARNO'S SUMMER PALACE AT BOGOR, 40 MILES FROM DJAKARTA, LAST SATURDAY (15 JANUARY).

THE STUDENTS DROVE TO BOGOR FROM DJAKARTA IN A CONVOY OF TRUCKS. THE TROUBLE STARTED WHEN THEY WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT ENTER THE PALACE GROUNDS, AND PALACE GUARDS FIRED OVER THEIR HEADS IN AN EFFORT TO QUIETEN THEM.

PRESIDENT SUKARNO WAS PRESIDING OVER A CABINET MEETING IN THE PALACE, AND HE INVITED STUDENT LEADERS INTO THE MEETING HALL. THEY HEARD THE PRESIDENT TELL THE MEETING THAT ANYONE WHO COULD GET PRICES DOWN WITHIN THREE MONTHS WOULD BE GIVEN A JOB AS A CABINET MINISTER, OR EVEN PRIME MINISTER. BUT THE PRESIDENT WARNED THAT IF PRICES WERE THE SAME AFTER THREE MONTHS, "I WILL PUT HIM IN JAIL FOR TEN YEARS, AND IF THE ECONOMY GETS WORSE AFTER THAT PERIOD, I WILL ORDER HIM TO BE SHOT DEAD."
WHILE THE STUDENTS RIOTED AT THE PALACE GATES, THOUSANDS OF WOMEN MARCHED THROUGH THE HEAVILY GUARDED STREETS OF DJAKARTA DEMANDING LOWER PRICES. THERE WERE NO INCIDENTS.