Sulfate Acid Used during Demos, says UI
Wednesday, 04 April, 2012 | 13:46 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, DEPOK:The University of Indonesia’s (UI) chemical lab has confirmed that the chemical fluid used on students demonstrating against rising fuel prices at the House of Representatives (DPR) last Friday was thick sulfate acid. The liquid injured seven reporters and three policemen.

“I’m convinced that it was sulfate acid,” said UI’s Math and Science Faculty lab head, Sunardi, yesterday.

Sunardi said the lab examined the wound suffered by Alvi, a cameraman from Kompas TV. Alvi’s backpack changed color and was burned because of the liquid.

Examination result showed that the liquid contained 20-40 percent sulfate acid. “This is stronger than accumulator liquid which only causes itchiness,” he said.

Three journalists who were affected by the sulfate acid reported to the Police headquarters yesterday. They were Bobby Gunawan (Al-Jazeera), Louis Benny Siahaya (Reuters) and Alice Budisatrijo (BBC World Service). “We reported this incident because it impeded journalists’ work,” said Bobby.

The National Consolidation of Indonesian Students’ spokesman, Firman Tri Andika, denied that his group used chemical substances during the demonstration. “We never intended to use violence,” he said yesterday.

ILHAM TIRTA | ANGGRITA DESYANI | GADI MAKITAN | DIAN YULIASTUTI