Kendari, SE Sulawesi (ANTARA) - The death toll in a massive student protest in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, on Thursday, to reject several controversial bills, including the Criminal Code Bill, rose to two after Muh Yusuf Kardawi’s demise on Friday morning.

"Muh Yusuf Kardawi passed away on Friday at around 4 a.m. local time after receiving intensive care following his surgery at the Bahtermas Hospital," Doctor Sjarif Subijakto, the hospital's acting director, stated in Kendari on Friday.

A team of doctors left no stone unturned to save the life of Kardawi, a 19-year-old student of the University of Halu Oleo's diploma in engineering program, who was gravely injured during the rally, Subijakto stated.

Kendari Police Chief Adjunct Sen. Coms. Jemi Junaidi appeared reluctant in giving a statement on Kardawi's death, affirming that ANTARA should rather contact the authorities in the Southeast Sulawesi Police headquarters.

On Thursday evening, Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi, in the company of Speaker of the Southeast Sulawesi legislative body Abdurrahman Shaleh and several related government officials, had visited Kardawi at Bahtermas Hospital.

The hospital's paramedics have been administering intensive treatment to 11 demonstrators, three policemen, and one staff member of the provincial parliament's secretariat, all of whom had been injured.

On Thursday, Immawan Randi, a 21-year-old student of the University of Halu Oleo's Faculty of Marine Science and Fisheries, also died of a gunshot wound.

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In connection with Randi's death, the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM) appealed to the National Police to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the shooting incident that claimed his life.

General Chairman of IMM's Central Executive Board Najih Prastiyo stated that Randi was his organization's cadre.

"We, all cadres of the IMM across Indonesia, express our deepest condolences over the demise of our colleague, whose death may have been caused by a live bullet during a student protest in Kendari," he stated.

The death of Randi, after suffering a gunshot wound to his right chest during clashes between protesting students and the anti-riot policemen in front of the Southeast Sulawesi Parliament building, was evidence of the policemen's repressive acts, he noted.

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Translator: Sarjono, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
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