Public conveys hopes to the new president<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
As the inauguration ceremony of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
\nJusuf Kalla was being broadcast throughout the archipelago, 75-
\nyear-old Mardiyem closed the two-and-a-half-page letter she had
\nwritten in Javanese to the new administration:<\/p>\n
\"The previous administrations have neglected us ... Through
\nthis letter, I ask you to urge the Japanese government to issue
\nan official apology to us and ask that your administration care
\nmore about us.\"<\/p>\n
Mardiyem and two friends, Suharti, 75, and Lasiyem, 80, are
\nthe only ones left of the 49 Yogyakarta women who were taken from
\ntheir families to live in concentration camps and to serve as sex
\nslaves to Japanese soldiers during World War II.<\/p>\n
Mardiyem was 13 when she was taken to a camp run by the South
\nKalimantan Japanese command in 1942. She was released after
\nIndonesia declared independence in August 1945.<\/p>\n
Although the Japanese government has provided compensation
\nthrough the Indonesian government to the comfort women, or juugun
\nianfu in Japanese, doubts remain that it reached the victims.<\/p>\n
Upon the change of guard at the presidential palace on
\nWednesday, many marginalized individuals such as Mardiyem,
\nactivists and nationwide organizations held peaceful rallies to
\nconvey their hopes, aspirations and demands to the Susilo
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the Indonesian Muslim Student Front (KAMMI)
\nreminded Susilo of his campaign promise to fight corruption, to
\nuphold supremacy of the law and to improve people's welfare.<\/p>\n
\"We and the people will be watching you during your first 100
\ndays in office,\" the students chanted during a rally outside the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, where the inauguration of
\nPresident Susilo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla was taking place
\non Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
KAMMI's rally was followed by another held by hundreds of
\nmembers of the People's Movement for Law Supremacy (Humanis) and
\nthe Student Executive Bodies (BEM) of universities in Greater
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Bandung, the National Students Front (FMN)
\ndemanded that the new administration focus on the education
\nsector, as six million children dropped out of primary and
\nsecondary school in 2003.<\/p>\n
The Surabaya chapter of KAMMI urged Susilo not to appoint
\nthose implicated in the abuse of state funds to his Cabinet, as
\nthey had contributed to the country's massive foreign debt.<\/p>\n
\"We also want the new administration to uphold civil supremacy
\nand stand by the people (not political parties),\" the students
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Another group, Barisan Oposisi, comprising the Democratic
\nPeople's Party (PRD) and the National Democratic Students League
\n(LMND), urged the new administration to try military officers
\ninvolved in human rights abuses and to withdraw troops from
\nconflict-torn Aceh and Papua in a bid to open doors to a more
\ndemocratic, peaceful resolution to the separatism issue.<\/p>\n
In addition, \"The new government should be independent from
\nthe International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other donor groups,\"
\nthe group demanded.<\/p>\n
Activists and residents of Madura Island, East Java, are
\nwaiting for the new administration to annul the controversial
\nplan to construct a nuclear power plant on the island, as
\npromised.<\/p>\n
\"In his campaign on Madura, Susilo said the nuclear power
\nplant was the last resort to meet Madura's power demand. The
\nisland has safer, natural resources, which are still untapped, to
\nbuild a fuel power plant or geothermal power plant big enough to
\nlight the island,\" said a Madurese activist, Mutmainah.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/public-conveys-hopes-to-the-new-president-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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