Indonesian troops fired rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas yesterday to stop thousands of students from reaching parliament, leaving scores injured in the second day of protests over a special legislative meeting.
Hospitals and witnesses spoke of at least 83 people injured in two separate clashes between security forces and students.
Even torrential rain did not deter the protesters. Some were hit by rubber bullets and others beaten by police and troops with rattan poles.
A massive security cordon was extended following clashes on Wednesday as students sought to get to parliament, where the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the highest legislative body, is holding a special meeting to set a date for new elections and discuss political reform. Troops fired warning bullets over the heads of students leading Wednesday's demonstrations.
The latest rubber bullets and tear-gas were fired as motorcycles at the head of a column of some 2,000 students approached an overpass near the parliament complex after dark. Motorcyclists and one van at the front of the column tried to force their way through a security cordon, a witness reported.
Troops first used tear-gas, and when the students remained firm, rubber bullets were fired into the crowd. A second round of shots rang out 30 minutes later as the protesters again tried to force their way through.
Security forces fired water cannon to break up a second column of 3,000 protesters trying to push their way through riot police and troops at another overpass.
The protesters, already soaked by rain, at first lay on the road. Troops charged them with batons and drove them off.
The 1,000 members of the Consultative Assembly, mostly elected under the regime of former president Suharto, met for the third day to map out new political guidelines following Mr Suharto's fall in May.
The students and reform activists say the assembly is a legacy of the Suharto era and have demanded early elections.
Protesters flowed along main streets from various directions towards parliament, some singing and beating drums.
One protest march started with about 3,000 students but doubled in size along the way, before splitting into different groups. All the protest columns were joined by civilians.
"Volunteers" emerged from a camp behind the parliament late in the night to beat civilians back into their homes with bamboo poles. The Jakarta police chief, Gen Nugroho, later arrived and ordered the vigilantes disarmed.
Thousands of commuters were stranded as public transport was scarce. Shops, banks and other businesses on the protest route closed, causing jitters at the stock exchange which lost 1.4 per cent.
Security forces closed a 10km stretch of tollway which passes the parliament and had been used by student demonstrators in previous days to get near the building.
The military leader, Gen Wiranto, reported on the growing tension in the capital to President B.J. Habibie at the palace during the afternoon, sources said.
Student rallies to protest at the MPR session also took place in the Java cities of Bandung, Solo, Yogyakarta and Purwokerto, the Suara Pembaruan evening daily said.
The assembly yesterday broke into five committees to debate the final form of 12 draft laws to allow elections in 1999.
The MPR agenda yesterday included limiting the president to two terms and investigating the personal wealth of Mr Suharto and his family.
Students also want the military removed from parliament, where it holds 75 seats. The military opposes threats to its political role.
An Indonesian police officer died after the clashes with students, it was announced.