'Dangdut' music dismays student protesters<\/p>\n
Asip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Soldiers in Yogyakarta came up with an novel
\nway of responding to a student demonstration on Friday by
\nblasting out popular local dangdut music and dancing in front of
\nscores of students protesting outside the Yogyakarta Regional
\nMilitary (Korem) headquarters.<\/p>\n
Unlike the expected military response, the musical response
\napparently caused some disappointment among the students and they
\nsoon dispersed peacefully.<\/p>\n
Friday marked the 56th anniversary of the Indonesian Military.<\/p>\n
The story began when the students, who were demanding the
\nabolition of the military role in politics, found the main gate
\nof the headquarters locked.<\/p>\n
They started making their speeches in very vigorous style,
\nwith their shouts getting louder and louder. Suddenly, the sound
\nof dangdut music was heard, and started getting louder and louder
\nalso.<\/p>\n
Seconds later scores of soldiers started to dance in front of
\nthe students.<\/p>\n
The show lasted only about fifteen minutes until the
\nprotesters left.<\/p>\n
\"This is harassment of students and democracy!\" one of the
\nprotesters, Zainu Rosyid, said. \"This also shows how arrogant
\nthey (the soldiers) are.\"<\/p>\n
The demonstration was organized by a faction of the
\nAssociation of Muslim Students (HMI) from Sunan Kalijaga State
\nInstitute of Islamic Studies (IAIN).<\/p>\n
There was no explanation forthcoming from the military as to
\nwhy they welcomed the student protesters they did.<\/p>\n
The students were also demanding that the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) improve the effectiveness of military tribunals in
\npunishing errant military personnel implicated in crimes.<\/p>\n
\"Everybody knows that there are many members of the army and
\npolice who provide protection for illegal businesses,\" Satria,
\nanother student, said. \"They must be punished.\"<\/p>\n
In their statement, the protesters urged that the trials of
\nmilitary personnel who were involved in human rights violations
\nbe continued.<\/p>\n
The official commemoration ceremony for the TNI anniversary in
\nYogyakarta was held at the city's Alun-Alun Utara (northern
\nsquare).<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dangdut-music-dismays-student-protesters-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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