STUDENTS DEMONSTRATING; TROOPS STANDING BY; BRIGADIER MAHMUD PERSUADING STUDENTS TO DISPERSE.




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Background: PRESIDENT SOEKARNO OF INDONESIA TODAY (SATURDAY) BANNED ALL STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS, DISSOLVED THE POWERFUL STUDENTS' ACTION COMMAND (KAMI) AND DECREED THAT NO GATHERINGS OF MORE THAN FIVE PEOPLE WOULD BE ALLOWED. THIS FOLLOWS DAYS OF DEMONSTRATIONS BY STUDENTS IN DJAKARTA AGAINST HIS RE-SHUFFLED CABINET.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT SOEKARNO ANNOUNCED A NEW CABINET WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE GENERAL ABDUL HARIS NASUTION, WHO WAS DEFENCE MINISTER. STUDENTS HAVE OBJECTED TO THIS AND TO THE FACT THAT THE NEW GOVERNMENT STILL CONTAINS THE FOREIGN MINISTER, DR. SUBANDRIO -SUSPECTED IN SOME QUARTERS AS HAVING BEEN SOMEHOW IMPLICATED IN LAST OCTOBER'S COMMUNIST - INSPIRED ATTEMPTED COUP. PRESIDENT SOEKARNO RECENTLY DISSOLVED THE INDONESIAN COMMUNIST PARTY.

ABOUT THREE THOUSAND STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE DJAKARTA'S LUXURY HOTEL INDONESIA. MEMBERS OF KAMI, THEY CARRIED WREATHS, A HALF-MAST FLAG AND THE SHIRT OF A FELLOW-STUDENT ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED WHEN TROOPS FIRED AT DEMONSTRATIONS THE DAY BEFORE.

EARLIER, A SIMILAR DEMONSTRATIONS WAS HELD OUTSIDE PRESIDENT SOEKARNO'S PALACE. TROOPS WITH FIXED BAYONETS DROVE THE STUDENTS OFF, AFTER FIRING INTO THE AIR.

AT WEDNESDAY'S DEMONSTRATION, RIVAL STUDENT GROUPS - ONE SUPPORTING PRESIDENT SOEKARNO'S DECISION - SHOUTED ABUSE AT EACH OTHER ACROSS A RIVER AS TROOPS WITH FIXED BAYONETS MINGLED ON BOTH SIDES. BRIGADIER AMIR MAHMUD, MILITARY COMMANDER OF DJAKARTA GARRISON, PERSUADED THE STUDENTS TO DISPERSE PEACEFULLY.