'Agents provocateurs at work among students'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Juwono
\nSudarsono warned students on Sunday that certain groups working
\nto pit them against the security apparatus sparked the bloody
\nclashes on Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n
He urged the academic community to consolidate and abide by
\nthe law when staging a demonstration to ensure it proceeded in an
\norderly and safe manner.<\/p>\n
\"This consolidation is very important, bearing in mind that
\nsome demonstrations became heated after they were infiltrated,\"
\nsaid Juwono. He said he was speaking in his capacity as a
\nminister, a university staff lecturer and a parent of students.<\/p>\n
Although not advocating an end to the demonstrations, Juwono
\nappealed to students to gradually resume their academic
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
The minister's appeal received a cool response from some of
\nstudent activists, especially those vowing to continue the fight
\nfor reform.<\/p>\n
In a declaration read on Sunday at the Atma Jaya Catholic
\nUniversity, three student groups -- Jakarta Front, Forbes and
\nFamred -- asked all students and lecturers nationwide to stay
\naway from their campuses for three days beginning on Monday.<\/p>\n
They also exhorted people from all walks of life to join a
\nthree-day national strike as a form of nonviolent resistance
\nagainst the brutality displayed by the security forces.<\/p>\n
\"As a form of national solidarity, please stay at home and
\nstop any official work. But please be alert and do not easily
\nbelieve in provocation,\" Edisyah from the Jakarta Front said.<\/p>\n
The groups' representatives also requested that the public fly
\nthe national flag at half-staff as a sign of mourning for those
\nkilled in clashes on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13.<\/p>\n
The nation is grieving from the horrific acts, the groups'
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that starting from the day the military used their
\nweapons to shoot unarmed people and students, the country is in
\ndeep grief,\" Edisyah said.<\/p>\n
The students also derided the final results of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) Special Session, saying they
\ncontravened national policies and were \"filled with blood\".<\/p>\n
They repeated their demands for a fresh transitional
\ngovernment to replace President B.J. Habibie's administration.<\/p>\n
\"We demand a transitional government which should be led by
\npeople from political parties and other elements that have been
\nproven to be real qualified professionals,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As of Sunday afternoon, many students remained at the Atma
\nJaya campus as bouquets of flowers and free meal packages arrived
\nat the site from those concerned about their struggle.<\/p>\n
\"We'll summon student coordinators (late Sunday) to arrange
\nfor a new plan,\" Wahab from Jakarta University said.<\/p>\n
\"And one thing is for sure, we're not giving up. They (the
\nmilitary) have had enough victims.\" (emb\/emf)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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