Rallies and demonstrations continue throughout the capital<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Having an endless supply of energy, thousands of
\nstudents and activists, including nuns and taxi drivers,
\ncontinued their massive rallies on Wednesday. Across the city a
\nwide-range of voices protested for a diversity of causes.<\/p>\n
Most of the protesters first gathered at the Hotel Indonesia
\nroundabout before drifting to various nearby areas.<\/p>\n
Among the biggest groups present at the rallies were the
\nStudent Action Front for Reform and Democracy (Famred), Forum
\nBersama, and several women organizations such as Suara Ibu Peduli
\n(Voice of Concerned Mothers), Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's
\nSolidarity) and Front Aksi Perempuan Indonesia (Indonesian Women
\nAction Front).<\/p>\n
Calls for former president Soeharto to be tried for his \"sins\"
\nduring his 32-year rule were still mounted, along with demands
\nfor the security authorities to stop violence, and for President
\nB.J. Habibie and Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto to be held accountable for the Nov. 13
\ndeaths of student protesters.<\/p>\n
At the same time, hundreds of students from IKIP Teacher's
\nCollege, Jakarta, thronged the office of the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, demanding a
\nsignificant increase in the money allocated to education in the
\ngovernment's budget, and the disbandment of the government-
\nsponsored All Indonesian Teachers Association.<\/p>\n
In West Jakarta, hundreds of Kosti taxi drivers packed the
\nMerdeka daily office, protesting its report on a robbery
\ncommitted by a taxi driver, that apparently mistakenly identified
\nthe robber as a Kosti employee.<\/p>\n
No clashes were reported during any of these peaceful
\nprotests. Some of the groups even danced and sang as they
\nprotested, giving free entertainment to the large crowds of
\nonlookers, reporters and tiring police and soldiers.<\/p>\n
Famred and Forum Bersama began their rallies by gathering on
\nJl. Kebon Kacang in front of the Sogo department store, near the
\nHotel Indonesia roundabout.<\/p>\n
The crowd of some 1,000 students sang, danced and later sat
\nalong the roundabout, immediately causing a traffic jam along the
\nbusy streets of Jl. MH. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.<\/p>\n
At about 3 p.m., the groups headed toward Soeharto's house on
\nJl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Wearing their respective university jackets, and carrying the
\nnational flag and banners bearing their demands, the protesters
\nwere only able to march for about 1,200 meters before they were
\nblocked by shield-and-stick wielding troops at Suropati Park.<\/p>\n
According to Famred member Lutfi, he and his colleagues would
\ncontinue their efforts to reach Soeharto's house.<\/p>\n
\"We want to know at which point we can enter. We already know
\nthat we will be blocked at Suropati Park. If we can break
\nthrough, we will continue. If we fail, we will disperse
\npeacefully. We don't want to die in vain,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another student, Rustam, said that the students would not harm
\nanyone or destroy anything if they manage to reach Cendana.<\/p>\n
\"We would only gather in front of and inside his house, and
\ntalk to the host. We wouldn't violate anything, as that would be
\na provocation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to Menteng police subprecinct head Capt. Firman
\nShantyabudi, Soeharto was not at his home.<\/p>\n
\"I don't understand why the students insist on coming to
\nCendana. He's not there anyway,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Overhearing the conversation, one of the protesters, Gorgy,
\nreplied: \"Well, at least there is still Pak Harto's odor left.
\nHis towels, his foot prints.\"<\/p>\n
Earlier, some 100 women grouped together in various women's
\norganizations, marched to the Proklamasi Monument to commemorate
\nthe International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against
\nWomen, which fell on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Attired in white dresses, carrying flowers and banners, the
\nwomen released some doves to symbolize their cause.<\/p>\n
Among the protesters were nuns, female Moslem students and
\nwomen activists Debra Yatim, Jajang C. Noer, Karlina Leksono, Ita
\nF. Nadia, Ernalia Pamungkas and Ati Wardiman Djojonegoro.<\/p>\n
\"Stop rape\", \"Stop Butchering\", \"Stop Domestic Violence\",
\n\"Stop Trafficking Woman\", \"Stop Oppression, \"Stop Racism\" read
\ntheir banners. (edt\/ivy)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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