Student demonstrations continue<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of university students in the city
\ncontinued to demonstrate yesterday by holding free-speech forums
\non their campuses.<\/p>\n
At the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Salemba, Central
\nJakarta, students gathered to hear speeches by, among others, MK
\nTadjudin, a former UI rector; Mahar Mardjono, also a former UI
\nrector; Hari Darmawan, head of the university alumni association;
\nand Hariman Siregar, a former head of the UI student council.<\/p>\n
Tadjudin said that all the university's lecturers supported
\nthe demonstrations, which they consider to be a moral movement,
\nwithin constitutional limits, and an expression of very genuine
\nconcern.<\/p>\n
\"The student movement reflects the conscience of the people,\"
\nMahar was quoted by Antara as having said.<\/p>\n
At the forum, students hung a banner above the balcony of the
\nuniversity medical school which demanded a reduction of prices,
\nthe provision of more job opportunities, an end to extortion and
\nrepression, and a special session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Another banner proclaimed: Students, People, the Armed Forces,
\nBe United!<\/p>\n
The free-speech forum was disturbed by the arrival of scores
\nof students from other universities, including the Indonesian
\nAccountancy Foundation and Gunadarma.<\/p>\n
Shortly after that, senior high school students drew up in a
\nbus and became involved in clashes with security officers. The
\nforum was ended at noon.<\/p>\n
Students were later prevented from leaving the campus and
\nmingling with a large mob which had started a disturbance in
\nnearby areas.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Gen. (ret.) Abdul Haris Nasution, Indonesia's most
\nsenior living general, visited the parents of Elang Mulya, one of
\nthe four Trisakti University students killed during a
\ndemonstration on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In his brief visit, Nasution said students should pursue
\npolitical reform despite challenges.<\/p>\n
At the House of Representatives, 103 lecturers from the
\nUniversity of Indonesia filed a petition with the ruling Golkar
\nparty faction Wednesday, expressing their concern over the
\ndeteriorating economic and political crisis.<\/p>\n
On a related development, thousands of Tarakanita Secretary
\nAcademy students in Cawang, East Jakarta, were involved in a
\nclash with security forces who prevented them from joining a
\nmassive free-speech forum on the neighboring Indonesian Christian
\nUniversity (UKI) campus.<\/p>\n
But the dispute was quickly resolved when students moved back
\nonto their campus.<\/p>\n
During a peaceful rally in front of Atmajaya Catholic
\nUniversity on Jl. Jend. Sudirman in South Jakarta yesterday,
\nstudents and local people were seen embracing and shaking hands
\nwith security personnel.<\/p>\n
About 90 anti-riot officers from the Army Special Forces
\n(Kopassus) mingled with the crowd, which consisted largely of
\nyoungsters, and chatted with them.<\/p>\n
One of the officers took a megaphone and asked the crowd to
\ndisperse peacefully.<\/p>\n
\"ABRI (the Armed Forces) will go hand in hand with the people.
\nWe realize that we come from the same stock,\" the officer said.<\/p>\n
\"We ask you all to disperse conscientiously and calmly and
\nreturn to your own residences,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Long Live ABRI!\" the crowd responded in unison. The
\nprotesters and the officers sang patriotic songs together, but
\ndemonstrators did not immediately leave the site.<\/p>\n
Students later emerged from their campus to take photographs
\nwith the officers. Some even asked the soldiers about their
\nweapons and equipment.<\/p>\n
A student and an officer clasped hands to show solidarity.<\/p>\n
\"We all suffer, sir,\" the student said, and the officer nodded
\nin response.<\/p>\n
Military officials said the relaxed attitude was part of the
\nArmed Forces' strategy for maintaining public trust and
\nsympathies.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very pleased. The people did not respond brutally toward
\nus. They still love us,\" said Sgt. Kurnia.<\/p>\n
\"I don't believe that all students are destructive,\" Second
\nSgt. Tono said.<\/p>\n
\"A stone thrown from the crowd when we arrived here nearly hit
\nme in the face, but I told myself,'It's OK, I will meet my
\nbrothers and sisters here anyway,'\" First Private Octavianus
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
When the crowd grew in size, police officers from a nearby
\nstation were deployed in the area.<\/p>\n
The police, who lined up 100 meters from Semanggi flyover,
\nfired warning shots when the crowd moved forward. No serious
\ninjuries were reported.<\/p>\n
The crowd responded by throwing stones, but their attempts to
\nmove forward were blocked by the military. (team)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/student-demonstrations-continue-1447893297",
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