The following is a detailed account of the actions on March 19 and 20 in Lampung, South Sumatra, given to Green Left Weekly by some of the activists involved.
One hundred and twenty students were injured, eight with broken bones; 121 were arrested; 55 are unaccounted for; and two are feared dead after 4000 demonstrated at the University of Lampung on March 19 calling for the removal of Suharto. By that evening, only 72 students had been released from custody.
On March 20, students rallied again. Starting with 30 students chanting anti-Suharto slogans, the demonstration grew quickly to 4000 again. The 30 students marched around the campus chanting: "The people will win; the elections must be honest and fair; join the demo, who is afraid?; Suharto is impotent, he must resign; don't make a mistake, it's not the Chinese to blame; and stop nepotism."
Another 100 students from the nearby University of Muhammidiyah arrived, but were blocked by the military from entering the campus. The field commander of the demonstration, Petrus, gave a speech condemning the blockade.
At the same time, another 60 students from high schools and other smaller campuses arrived. A women's delegation joined and read poetry condemning the regime. Soon after, a troupe of student jesters parodied the anti-riot squad which is usually on standby for demonstrations.
After songs and speeches the crowd had reached more than 1000. Singing the song of struggle from the 1945 revolution ("Hello, Hello Bandung"), the students marched off the campus. When the crowd (now several thousand after the students were joined by local people) reached the Al-Wasi'i Mosque they were met by four truck loads of anti-riot squad soldiers and 20 vehicles from the army command. Police also blocked one other main road into the city.
As the marchers surged forward to break through the blockade, troop reinforcements arrived with trucks equipped with tear gas. The protesters began chanting "One command, one action: overthrow Suharto!"
The crowd again surged forward trying to get further down the street. They chanted "Reform or death. Long live the people" and shouted that the military were just the guard dogs of the regime. More troop reinforcements arrived, bringing the number to about 500.
The rally's spirits were lifted when several score of high school students join the open forum being held in front of the military blockade. Just as the rally turned to march back to the campus, a fire truck arrived and attacked it with water cannons. From behind the blockade troops started throwing rocks into the rally.
The front section of the march closed ranks to protect those behind who sought cover and threw the rocks back at the soldiers. Tear gas was then fired into the crowd, dispersing the people at the front. Those behind, however, again closed ranks and formed a new human barricade, allowing those who had fled behind to regroup and once again return the fire with stones and rocks.
The military grabbed, beat and detained whoever they could. Women and high school students were especially targeted. Local residents started shouting hysterically as they witnessed students being beaten. Many women tried to join the march but were held back by the military.
About 50 students were detained as they rally made its way back to the campus, maintaining the stone battle with the military all the way. Inside the campus, two police were taken hostage by the students who announced that the police would be held until all students were released. Meanwhile, 36 students began a hunger strike in solidarity with those arrested.