House cleared after student occupation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Staff members literally began picking up the
\npieces at the House of Representatives (DPR) over the weekend in
\nthe aftermath of the compound's five-day \"occupation\" by
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
The student takeover of the DPR not only helped end the 32-
\nyear presidency of Soeharto, but apparently caused severe damage
\nto the \"people's\" building which will likely hamper planned
\nlegislative meetings in the near future.<\/p>\n
The House's secretariat general began cataloging the damages
\nto the more than 30-year-old compound.<\/p>\n
FX Soebandrio, public relations chief of the secretariat, said
\nthe students created a great deal of damage.<\/p>\n
\"The student occupation has caused a lot of material damage to
\nfour main structures at the House compound. The damages and the
\nloss of electronic equipment will certainly affect the House's
\ndaily activities,\" he said in a statement here Saturday.<\/p>\n
The occupation ended only in the wee hours of Saturday morning
\nwhen thousands of soldiers flushed out the remaining students in
\nthe compound.<\/p>\n
The House compound on Jl. Gatot Subroto, Central Jakarta, has
\nbeen a silent witness to many momentous decisions made by the
\ncountry's legislators and leaders in the past three decades.<\/p>\n
What was originally a relatively modest 8,000-square-meter
\nfacility has now been transformed into a grand complex covering
\n42,000 square meters.<\/p>\n
Construction of the Grahatama, with its green roof shaped to
\nresemble the wings of a giant bird in flight, began in April
\n1965.<\/p>\n
It was opened for use in March 1967.<\/p>\n
Supporting facilities now include the legislators'
\nLokawirasabha office building, the Ganagraha commission meeting
\nhall, the Grahakarana auditorium and the Pustakaloka library.<\/p>\n
The newest addition to the compound is a 24-story tower, the
\nLokawirasabha Tama tower, next to a previously built three-story
\nbuilding.<\/p>\n
The recently completed Lokawirashaba Tama tower cost more than
\nRp 116 billion in taxpayer funds and was officially opened in
\nMarch 1997.<\/p>\n
The construction of the tower was carried out by Citra-Adhi
\nJoint Operation, a joint venture of PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada
\nowned by (former president) Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti
\nHardijanti Rukmana and the state-owned PT Adhi-Karya.<\/p>\n
Crystal<\/p>\n
Soebandrio said all the glass doors in the Grahasabha
\nParipurna, the main assembly hall where legislators and members
\nof the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) hold general
\nsessions, were damaged.<\/p>\n
A set of crystal lights at the Grahatama structure was also
\nbadly damaged.<\/p>\n
He said that most automatic electric and glass doors in the
\nmultistory Lokawirasabha building were also badly damaged.<\/p>\n
All copies of the House's important documents are stored in
\nthis building.<\/p>\n
Almost all computers, facsimile machines and lights at the
\nGrahakarana auditorium were also out of order and needed
\nimmediate repair, he said.<\/p>\n
Soebandrio said the secretariat was also searching for two
\ntelevision cameras and three sound system sets that were seized
\nby students in their free speech forum during the five-day
\noccupation.<\/p>\n
Apart from the buildings, there was also damage to the grounds
\nin the front and back of the complex which became the home to
\nover 30,000 students at one point last week.<\/p>\n
The House secretariat has yet to estimate the value of the
\nmaterial losses and the amount needed for repairs.<\/p>\n
On Saturday morning, dozens of workers were deployed to clean
\nup the garbage accumulated in the compound.<\/p>\n
Piles of mineral bottles, paper, boxes and other materials
\nwere lying about. By yesterday afternoon the front of the
\ncompound looked cleaner. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-cleared-after-student-occupation-1447893297",
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