"We are detaining them for a while to remind them that setting something ablaze during a rally is not allowed," chief of the Bengkulu city police Adj. Senr. Comr. Iksantiyo Bagus Pramono said.
The students were detained after trying to burn two effigies outside the Bengkulu Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) building in protest against the planned fuel price hike, he said.
He said the three students were Romidi Karnawan, chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Student Movement (KAMMI) of Bengkulu chapter, Wahyu, the rally`s coordinator, and one demonstrator.
The police released the students after detaining them for 30 minutes, he said.
Earlier in the day, a number of protesters consisting of students and youth organization members sealed a gas station about 6.5 km from Bengkulu city.
"We are sealing this gasoline station in protest against the government`s plan to raise the fuel prices," Romidi said on the sidelines of a rally.
They sealed the gas station by putting a cardboard reading "sealed" on it. The act caused the gas station to cease services before tens of police personnel came to stop it.
Reporting by Helti Marini Sipayung
(S012/A014)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
