PDI warned of state chaos, power abuses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of pro-democracy activists staged a noisy
\nprotest at the House of Representatives yesterday, denouncing
\nwhat they called the \"rising incidence of state violence\" and the
\n\"widespread abuse of power\".<\/p>\n
Coming in two groups, they gathered inside the House foyer,
\nchanting slogans and singing patriotic songs with lyrics twisted
\ninto a mockery of inconsistent government policy.<\/p>\n
They mentioned several recent incidents, including allegations
\nof military brutality while handling a student demonstration,
\ncollusion at the Supreme Court, the escape of tycoon Eddy Tansil
\nfrom prison and Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto's
\nabuse of power.<\/p>\n
One group which consisted of activists from Pijar, a militant
\nstudent group seeking political reform, found legislators from
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) to hear their concerns.<\/p>\n
The Pijar activists demanded that Armed Forces Commander Gen.
\nFeisal Tanjung, Haryanto Dhanutirto, Minister of Justice Oetojo
\nOesman and Justice Sujatmi Soedarmoko resign as an act of
\naccountability for the irregularities in their respective
\noffices.<\/p>\n
\"We demand that every citizen receive equal treatment before a
\ncourt of justice,\" Pijar chief Fery Haryono Machsus said.
\n\"Independent teams must investigate the numerous cases of
\ncorruption and abuses of power.\"<\/p>\n
PDI legislators Aberson Marle Sihaloho, Jupri and Popo S.
\nHaroen said the minority party shares the concerns of the
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
\"Collusion at the Supreme Court is especially deplorable. It
\nshows how weak law enforcement is in Indonesia,\" said Djupri from
\nthe House Commission III for legal affairs.<\/p>\n
Aberson said that the widespread use of violence to handle
\ncivil cases has reached alarming levels. He cited the harsh
\nmanner in which security forces dispersed students protesting a
\nhike in transport fares last month in Ujungpandang. Three
\nstudents were killed in the incident.<\/p>\n
\"It is sad to know that Armed Forces members shot unarmed
\ncivilians, who pay taxes to buy the guns,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, another demonstration was held at the Ministry of
\nAgriculture by dozens of students protesting an alleged act of
\ncorruption at a rubber goods factory project in Purwakarta, West
\nJava, and at palm oil refining and oleochemical plant on Batam
\nisland.<\/p>\n
The state suffered financial losses of billions of rupiah
\nbecause of the corruption involving the state-owned PT Perkebunan
\nAgrintara company, the students charged.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, an alliance of pro-democracy activists from 16 NGOs
\ndemanded in a statement that state violence be stopped before the
\npeople's initiative is destroyed.<\/p>\n
\"The public's participation in state development will be
\nkilled and the dream of democracy will remain elusive,\" they
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The rising incidence of violence on a state level, they said,
\nis evident in the everyday cases of officials launching street
\noperations against citizens without identity cards, the torturing
\nof prisoners and the placement of military officers at railway
\nstations, bus terminals and other public places.<\/p>\n
Violence is often used against student activists and pro-
\ndemocracy activists, they said. Government critics are
\ndiscredited with such stigmas as \"leftist\" or for \"having past
\nlinks with the Indonesian Communist Party\". (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-warned-of-state-chaos-power-abuses-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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