More protests against Soeharto's renomination<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The series of demonstrations at the House of
\nRepresentatives this week continued yesterday as 120 people from
\ndifferent groups staged rallies to express concern about the
\nmonetary crisis and show their support for government critics
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri and Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
One group packed the House foyer, while another assembled
\noutside the building, reading out their demands for economic and
\npolitical reform and rejecting President Soeharto's nomination
\nfor the 1998\/2003 term.<\/p>\n
About 50 people, calling themselves the Forum Tuntutan Hati
\nNurani Rakyat (Forum for the People's Conscientious Demands) said
\nthe monetary crisis indicated the government's failure to bring
\ndemocratization to the nation.<\/p>\n
They said a new face was needed to carry out reform and
\ninvigorate the country's political and economic situation.<\/p>\n
They also appealed that the People's Consultative Assembly
\nnominate Megawati Soekarnoputri, the toppled leader of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party, as the next president.<\/p>\n
For four consecutive days, activists and students have packed
\nthe House lobby either to protest or support the government's
\nefforts at economic reform and the renomination of President
\nSoeharto for another five-year term.<\/p>\n
Of the groups, only one supported Soeharto's renomination.
\nThey called themselves the Forum for Solidarity of Islamic
\nNationalist Students.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, a group of about 70 people from 20
\norganizations of youth, artists, Moslem students and journalists
\ndemonstrated and called on the Assembly to formally name Amien
\nRais, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, and Megawati as presidential
\ncandidates in its plenary session in March.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson for Indonesian's Solidarity for Amien-Mega
\n(SIAGA) group, Ratna Sarumpaet, said the country needed a new
\nfigure to create a clean government, one free from corruption and
\ncollusion.<\/p>\n
\"We have a poor political system and the nation's economy has
\ncaused people to starve to death. We need a leader with a healthy
\nconscience and vision, who can lead the country under people's
\nsovereignty,\" said Ratna, a playwright. (09)<\/p>",
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