Forkot denies communist links, says no demo planned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Forum Kota (Forkot), a loose association of
\nstudents from 39 colleges in Jakarta, has denied accusations that
\nit is communist-inspired and that it has planned to stage massive
\nstreet demonstrations nationwide on Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
In a statement on Monday, Forkot also said that accusations
\nthat it was an anti-Islam group were baseless since many of its
\nmembers were students of Islamic universities.<\/p>\n
"It's wrong to accuse Forkot as anti-Islam because members of
\nthe forum include students of the state-run Institute for Islamic
\nStudies IAIN As-Syafi'iyah, Ibnu Chaldun University and others,"
\nthe statement said.<\/p>\n
The association slammed Republika and Panji Masyarakat for
\nreports which it said suggested the communist-links.<\/p>\n
It cited a headline story carried in Republika's Sept. 25
\nedition that read: ABRI Waspadai Gerakan G30'S Forkot (ABRI Keeps
\nClose Watch on Forkot G30'S).<\/p>\n
G30S, short for Gerakan 30 September (the Sept. 30 Movement),
\nrefers to the 1965 aborted coup blamed on the now-defunct
\nIndonesian Communist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
Forkot also denied links with opposition figures grouped in
\nthe National Front led by retired army general A. Kemal Idris or
\nto the popular Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
"Forum Kota is an independent student action front, and has no
\npatron-client relationships whatsoever with any political groups
\nor elites," it said.<\/p>\n
The group denied having any plans to hold massive street
\nprotests as some leaflets and rumors have said.<\/p>\n
"So if there are protests on that date, they are not Forkot's
\nresponsibility."<\/p>\n
A delegation of 46 Forkot members demonstrated on Monday at
\nthe Republika office, demanding the daily run an apology on its
\nfront page for three consecutive days. They were met by, among
\nothers, general manager Haidar Bagir and chief editor Makmur A.
\nMakka.<\/p>\n
The daily executives rejected the demand, saying they would
\nlook into whether their journalist had made any mistakes in the
\nreport.<\/p>\n
In Medan, North Sumatra, members of Golkar-affiliate National
\nCommittee of Indonesian Youth (KNPI) and several other youth
\ngroups pledged to hold a counterprotest against any communist-
\ninspired protests.<\/p>\n
Activists Husni Malik and Yusuf Malik of the North Sumatra 66
\nExponent youth group said the recent wave of student protests had
\nendangered unity in the Armed Forces (ABRI).<\/p>\n
They said public condemnations against ABRI must be stopped
\nnow that the military had launched internal reforms.<\/p>\n
Activist Marzuki of Golkar Task Force added: "We won't allow
\n(the continued condemnation of ABRI)." (21\/25\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/forkot-denies-communist-links-says-no-demo-planned-1447893297",
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