Gen. Wiranto warns certain groups plan greater unrest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Affairs\/Armed
\nForces Commander Gen. Wiranto warned yesterday that a certain
\ngroup was planning to incite greater unrest to coincide with the
\nhistoric National Awakening Day tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\"The fires in government buildings, shops and people's houses
\nare not even cold yet... but there are already certain people
\nwho are trying again to assemble a mass crowd for May 20, 1998,
\nwhich risks a repetition of the sad scenes we have just
\nwitnessed,\" Wiranto told journalists yesterday evening.<\/p>\n
\"They seem to forget and even don't seem to care about the
\nloss of life and material goods... They are being pushed on by
\nthe wave of unrestrained freedom and even threaten the safety of
\ngeneral public facilities.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, ABRI as a stabilizing force in society, asks that
\nall people continue to abide by the prevailing law because any
\nother course of action will only exacerbate the situation. ABRI
\nwarns the certain parties to stop anarchic actions if they do not
\nwant to face military force,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Wiranto did not identify which group he meant, however it is
\nwidely anticipated that a major demonstration will be held.<\/p>\n
Wiranto made his statement at the Armed Forces headquarters
\nafter earlier meeting with President Soeharto at his residence on
\nJl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
But even as Wiranto made his statement, students throughout
\nthe country were already making calls for the public to join them
\nfor a mass demonstration on May 20, National Awakening Day.<\/p>\n
In Medan, North Sumatra, hundreds of students at Sumatra Utara
\nUniversity took turns to stick pamphlets on the windshields of
\nvehicles passing in front of their campus on Jl. Jamin Ginting.<\/p>\n
The pamphlets urged people to simultaneously voice their
\nconcern on Wednesday, and express concern at the dire state of
\nthe nation.<\/p>\n
The small flier ended with the words \"Merdeka\" (Freedom) and
\ndemands for a presidential succession.<\/p>\n
In major cities across the country students stepped up their
\nrallies which are no longer merely demanding comprehensive reform
\nbut are also calling on President Soeharto to step down.<\/p>\n
Lecturers<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, it was not just students demonstrating
\nyesterday, but 1,000 lecturers and staff from Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity who held an on campus rally.<\/p>\n
In a statement they urged for a change in the national
\nleadership as a prerequisite of reform.<\/p>\n
\"Reform will never succeed without a change in leadership
\nbecause the national leadership under President Soeharto is one
\nof the main causes of the crisis,\" the statement read.<\/p>\n
The statement also warned people not to become distracted by
\njingoistic reform slogans which could be a placebo to assuage
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
A valorous show was also put on by the university's rector,
\nIchlasul Amal, who joined the protest and spoke to the crowd,
\nurging them to continue pursuing comprehensive change.<\/p>\n
He said piecemeal schemes such as cabinet reshuffle would do
\nlittle to relieve the crisis dogging the country.<\/p>\n
\"If are demands succeed, let us create a civil society free of
\nfear and hunger. If we fail to do that then the same fate will
\nbefall us again,\" he remarked while shouting \"I promise to
\nsupport you and to be with you!\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in another part of the city, thousands of students
\nfrom the Indonesian Islamic University held a demonstration which
\neventually culminated at the crossroads of Jl. Taman Siswa and
\nJl. Kol. Sugiono. Traffic was jammed for over four hours due to
\nthe protest.<\/p>\n
In Purwokerto, Central Java, thousands of students at two
\nuniversities joined in the rallies demanding reform.<\/p>\n
Students at Soedirman University marched off their campus and
\nwere able to proceed for one-kilometer before being blocked by a
\nstrong security contingent.<\/p>\n
No clashes occurred as the students dispersed and returned to
\ntheir campus to hold a free speech forum.<\/p>\n
At the nearby Academy for Computer Information Management,
\nstudents could not walk out of their campus because security
\nforces were quick to block the two exits out of the campus.
\nUndeterred, the students continued their noisy protest inside the
\ncampus grounds, urging President Soeharto to step as a necessary
\nrequirement for reform.<\/p>\n
In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, the rector of Hasanuddin
\nUniversity, Radi A. Gani, joined a massive street protest
\ninvolving a crowd of 25,000 comprised mainly of students.<\/p>\n
The peaceful march was joined by hundreds of motorcycles and
\ncars as they traveled down the streets of the city.<\/p>\n
Upon arriving at Mandala building, speakers took turns to urge
\nfor reforms.<\/p>\n
Radi himself called on students not to be afraid of voicing
\nthe people's aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"We fully support the student's struggle,\" he shouted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Bandung, West Java, about 2,000 students from
\nBandung Institute of Technology (ITB) broke spontaneously into
\ncheers when they heard that House speaker Harmoko had urged
\nPresident Soeharto to step down.<\/p>\n
The students were holding a rally in front of their campus on
\nJl. Ganesha at the time.<\/p>\n
The rally was attended by lecturers and noted figures,
\nincluding musicians such as Harry Roesli, Doel Sumbang and Sam
\nBimbo. (21\/23\/30\/43\/44\/45\/swa\/rms)<\/p>",
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