Call for national strike gets mixed response<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Student Executive Boards' (BEMs)
\ncall for a national strike received a mixed response from both
\nthe people and university students nationwide, and life
\npractically went on as normal in all cities in the country on
\nMonday, despite student demonstrations in several places.<\/p>\n
In the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, some 200 students
\nfrom the local BEM branch gathered at the Mandala Monument area
\ndowntown at Jl. Jend. Sudirman, expressing their support to the
\nJakarta's BEM's call for a national strike.<\/p>\n
Demanding that President Abdurrahman Wahid resign, the
\nstudents said that a national strike was the most effective way
\nto force the President to step down.<\/p>\n
Usman, chairman of Makassar University BEM, said that Monday's
\nmove was aimed at informing the people about their big plan.
\n\"Many more students will take to the streets on Wednesday. We
\nwere and will be consistent with our demand for the resignation
\nof President Abdurrahman.\"<\/p>\n
A student of Hasanuddin University said she heard about the
\nstrike call. \"Things ran as usual on Monday, despite the
\ndemonstration,\" Emmy Mustafa said.<\/p>\n
In Purwokerto, Central Java, there was no action taken by
\nJendral Sudirman University students.<\/p>\n
Banyumas Police chief Comr. Imam Basuki told reporters that he
\nhad been informed about a huge strike on Monday. \"Thank God,
\nnothing happened.\"<\/p>\n
Asked about the many officers in uniform standing at several
\ncorners of the city, Imam said that the alert status related to
\nthe planned visit of First Lady Sinta Nuriyah Wahid on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The First Lady was scheduled to become the keynote speaker at
\na one-day seminar on gender in the campus.<\/p>\n
Rumor had it that a big rally was planned to welcome Sinta
\nNuriyah on Tuesday, but reliable sources said late Monday night
\nthat she canceled her visit for unknown reasons.<\/p>\n
In the Central Java capital of Semarang, around 500 students
\nof Diponegoro University BEM and the Sultan Agung Islamic
\nUniversity marched to the provincial legislative council.<\/p>\n
On the way, the students distributed leaflets to pedestrians
\nand motorists calling all people to go on strike as an expression
\nof national concern about the unresolved national problems.<\/p>\n
The students also urged the President to step down for his
\nfailures.<\/p>\n
Fris Dwi Yuliyanto, the students' coordinator, did not say
\nwhen the strike would take place.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at least 300 members of the Indonesian Muslim
\nStudents' Front packed the front yard of the Grahadi
\ngubernatorial office in Surabaya, demanding that President 'Gus
\nDur' Abdurrahman give up his post.<\/p>\n
They said they supported their fellow students from the BEM
\n(who were in Jakarta for a similar demand), adding that Gus Dur's
\nadministration has lost its political, moral, social and
\npsychological legitimacy.<\/p>\n
In the 90-minute action, the students also criticized the
\ngovernment's plan to increase fuel prices.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Jakarta students called on public transport drivers
\nto take part in the national strike.<\/p>\n
However, the call got no response in Surabaya. \"What's the
\nreason for going on strike? Shall drivers in Surabaya go on
\nstrike if Jakarta drivers do so? Let Jakarta drivers take their
\nown action,\" Roni, a mikrolet driver said.<\/p>\n
The students' front secretary, Guritno, said the (Surabaya)
\nstudents had never asked Surabaya people to go on strike. \"We
\nhave not planned any strike.\"<\/p>\n
Nothing special happened in Yogyakarta on Monday.<\/p>\n
Only a group of 35 people calling themselves the Youths
\nCommunity for Defending Democracy were seen gathering at the side
\nof the well-known Malioboro thoroughfare. They were just \"saying
\nprayers\" for national unity and had nothing to do with the
\nnational strike call or demand for the President's resignation.<\/p>\n
They waved huge banners which read, among other things, \"Pray
\nfor National Unity\".<\/p>\n
Coordinator Syahrul Munir said that his group was just trying
\nto remind all layers of society that unity was beyond everything.<\/p>\n
Life in the West Java capital of Bandung went on as normal.
\nAll government and private offices were open and there were no
\nstudents' demonstrations on the streets.<\/p>\n
People seemed to be heedless of the call to strike.<\/p>\n
\"Who has called for a strike? Why? I have to make money as
\nusual,\" said Apul, a 61-year-old food vendor.<\/p>\n
In Tangerang, Banten, public transport drivers did not heed
\nthe strike call. They operated as usual, saying that they did not
\nagree with the strike call voiced by the students.<\/p>\n
\"We have families. Who will feed our wives and children if we
\nstop making money?,\" said Solihin, a driver of a public transport
\nvehicle plying the Pasar Anyar - Perumnas route.<\/p>\n
A becak (three-wheeled pedicab) driver, Warman said a strike
\nwould not change his life. \"With or without a strike I'll remain
\na becak driver,\" the 50-year-old man said. (team)<\/p>",
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