Demontrations spread in several big cities<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Students continued on Tuesday with their
\ndemonstrations demanding that former president Soeharto be tried,
\nand that recent riots be investigated thoroughly.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of students from the University of Indonesia held a
\npeaceful rally at the intersection near the National Monument
\n(Monas) calling President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces Commander
\nGen. Wiranto to a dialog with them. However, they demanded that
\nWiranto resign over the alleged failure of his men in their task
\nof maintaining security in the capital.<\/p>\n
They also demanded a fair and free general election, and an
\nend to the military representation in the lower House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
They further warned against the politicization of religions
\nleading to the disintegration of the nation. Marching from the
\nHotel Indonesia roundabout to Monas, the students were prevented
\nby a security personnel barricade and police line from advancing.<\/p>\n
The students, who had notified the police about their plan to
\ndemonstrate as required by the newly established law on freedom
\nof expression, dispersed peacefully afterwards.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, two other groups of students from Trisakti
\nUniversity and the Communication Forum of Jakarta Student Senates
\n(FKSMJ) forced their way into the Attorney General's Office to
\ndemand that Soeharto be tried for past wrongdoings.<\/p>\n
They also urged Habibie and Wiranto to take responsibility for
\nthe bloodshed in the Semanggi Cloverleaf when security personnel
\nopened fire on student protesters, 16 of whom have died so far.<\/p>\n
\"The power holder is trying to divert attention from the main
\nissue of responsibility for the tragedy by creating others,
\nincluding allegations of treason... We will push Ghalib to keep
\nhis own word to investigate Soeharto thoroughly,\" Ridwan of FKSMJ
\nsaid. The students insisted to camp out at the office, but were
\nflushed out by security late Tuesday. Several students were
\ninjured.<\/p>\n
Some 20 representatives of the students were received by
\nAttorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib but they ended their talks
\nby presenting the official with a chicken to represent his
\n\"cowardly manner.\"<\/p>\n
Hundreds of students grouped in the City Forum (Forkot)
\nmarched from Cawang in East Jakarta to the Pancoran intersection
\nin South Jakarta where they were blocked by security personnel in
\ntheir attempt to reach the House of Representatives building on
\nJl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, students from the Jakarta Arts Institute
\ndemonstrated at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout to seek government
\naccount for unrest on Sunday when a number of churches were
\nburned and 14 people were killed.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, around 100 students rallied in
\nfront of the Diponegoro Military Command Headquarters, also
\ndemanding that Wiranto take responsibility for the Semanggi
\ntragedy. They also demanded the phasing-out of the military's
\npolitical role by terminating its presence at the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
In Denpasar, Bali, hundreds of women grouped in the Indonesian
\nWomen's Alliance, protested the repressive approach of the
\nsecurity personnel in handling student movements. They blasted
\nthe military for the shooting at the Semanggi Cloverleaf.<\/p>\n
The women, who had notified the police beforehand, staged
\ntheir demonstration at the Badung Puputan Square, Antara
\nreported.<\/p>\n
In Padang, West Sumatra, more than 200 students from the
\nPeople's Mandate Forum also demanded the phasing-out of the Armed
\nForces' dual function which had \"retarded democracy.\"<\/p>\n
The demonstrators also condemned repression by the security
\npersonnel of the student movement. They also criticized fellow
\nstudents who, during one demonstration last week, held Minister
\nof Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin hostage at the Tabing Airport in
\nPadang. The minister was forced to meet the student protesters
\nfor hours. He was afterwards rudely dismissed and told to leave
\nthe city immediately.<\/p>\n
On Monday, rectors of 10 universities in the province gathered
\nin Padang and declared their support for the student movement.
\nHowever, they also blasted the students for their ill-treatment
\nof Soleh. (rms\/edt\/har\/25)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/demontrations-spread-in-several-big-cities-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}