Protesters Want Suharto Questioned
The Associated Press
AP-NY-04-01-00 1242EST

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Demonstrators angry that former President Suharto 
will not face questioning over corruption allegations shoved toward his 
residence Saturday and shouted ``Hang Suharto!''

Riot police fired tear gas and attacked the protesters, who pushed against 
a line of police blocking access to the street where the ex-president 
lives. The protesters pelted stones at the officers, who responded with 
tear gas and a baton charge. At least two protesters were injured. Lawyers 
for the 79-year-old Suharto, who suffered a slight stroke last year, said 
he is too ill to be interrogated. But government doctors who examined him 
said he was fit enough to be questioned.

The demonstration was the latest in recent days. Earlier, hundreds of
protesters rallied to protest hikes in electricity and public transport fees,
a day after the government backed down on a similar plan to raise fuel 
costs. The government's move, announced by President Abdurrahman Wahid, 
defused plans by student and labor groups to mount massive protests in the 
capital and other cities.

However, about 500 students and workers did gather peacefully in front of 
the national parliament building in downtown Jakarta carrying banners 
reading ``We demand free education,'' ``No price rises,'' and ``Down with
capitalism.''

The government, meanwhile, said the cost of electricity and public 
transport would go up as planned. The last time the government pushed up 
gasoline prices by cutting fuel subsidies, Indonesians took to the streets 
in bloody riots that ousted Suharto. The attempt to reduce government 
subsidies is due to pressure from international lenders who want to see 
Indonesia become a more market-oriented economy.

AP-NY-04-01-00 1242EST