Demo greets Mega in Makassar<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Contrary to guarantees given by
\nacademicians and local figures, a demonstration greeted President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri as she was on her way to Batangkaluku,
\nSouth Sulawesi, to officially inaugurate a clean water project on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Dozens of activists from 51 non-governmental organizations
\ngrouped under the banner of the South Sulawesi NGOs Coalition
\ntried to intercepted the President's cavalcade in front of the
\nState Islamic Institute Alauddin, blocking Jl. Sultan Alauddin.<\/p>\n
Before Megawati arrived in Makassar, local academicians and
\nfigures promised that there would be no demonstrations against
\nthe President.<\/p>\n
Andi Selle, the demonstration's coordinator, said that
\nMegawati was merely a crony of the New Order regime and the
\nmilitary.
\n\"She won't settle the nation's problems because she is just a New
\nOrder puppet,\" Selle told The Jakarta Post. \"The Golkar Party
\n(the ruling party during the Soeharto era) and the military have
\nexploited the constitution to usurp democracy.\"<\/p>\n
\"We are against Megawati. We demand that she step down and
\nthat the legislature be dissolved. We want a general election
\nwithin one year without the participation of Golkar. We also
\noppose the military and police presence in the legislature,\" said
\nSelle.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators finally allowed the cavalcade to pass after
\nthey were persuaded to do so by security officers. (27\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/demo-greets-mega-in-makassar-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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