Student groups concerned about riot victims<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Four influential student organizations expressed
\nconcern yesterday for the many people who became victims in
\nSaturday's violent rioting and called for the cessation of
\n\"violent politics\" in the country.<\/p>\n
\"We express our deep sadness to the relatives and families of
\nthose who became victims in the violence,\" said leading members
\nof the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement, the Indonesian
\nChristian Students Movement, the Union of Indonesian Catholic
\nStudents and the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement in a
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
\"The bloody tragedy has proven the arrogance of the powerful,
\n(manifested in) a violent action against the people, who should
\nactually be the holders of sovereignty in this country,\" the
\ngroup said.<\/p>\n
\"The use of power and violence will never solve problems, but
\nwill instead run against the principles of people's sovereignty,
\nhuman rights, democracy, the state ideology Pancasila and the
\n1945 Constitution,\" the statement further said.<\/p>\n
The students also said the \"tragedy has strengthened the
\npeople's view that violent politics is a given practice in the
\ncommunity ... and lack of intent to obey to ethics, morality and
\npolitical integrity\".<\/p>\n
The clash between supporters of ousted Indonesian Democratic
\nParty chief Megawati Soekarnoputri with troops, as well as the
\nrioting that followed, erupted after the forced takeover of the
\nparty headquarters by supporters of Megawati's foe, Soerjadi, and
\nthe police.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, a number of other groups also came forward to make
\ntheir stance on the issue known. An association of five Moslem
\nyouth organizations jumped onto the bandwagon of other
\norganizations who have already condemned the rioting and
\nsupported the way the government and the Armed Forces handled it.<\/p>\n
Calling themselves the Young Generation of Indonesian Moslems,
\nthe youths began their statement by calling the rioting
\n\"anarchist\" and even \"subversive\", a crime punishable by death in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"The mass rioting is anarchist and subversive because its
\nintent is to undermine the government's credibility,\" the youths
\nsaid in the statement. \"The campaign began with the free speech
\nforum, which incited people to hate the legitimate government.\"<\/p>\n
The students were referring to the daily gathering of
\nMegawati's supporters at the headquarters before the takeover,
\nwhich the Armed Forces called an \"embryo of insurgence\".<\/p>\n
\"We demand that both Megawati and Soerjadi be held
\nresponsible, because (the rioting) stemmed from the political
\nconflict between the two,\" the students said.<\/p>\n
Several reporters attending the press briefing suggested that
\nthe students had been too hasty in issuing the statement
\ncondemning the rioters, one which was based on scanty knowledge
\nof what really took place during the incident, which led to the
\ndeaths of three people and left dozens injured.<\/p>\n
Taufiq Hidayat, one of the activists, denied the suggestion.
\n\"Oh, we've been well-informed all right ... we knew people who
\nhad been involved in the free speech forum,\" he insisted. \"It's
\njust unethical for us to name the people now.\"<\/p>\n
Taufiq called Megawati and Soerjadi \"phony leaders\" who
\nabandoned their responsibilities when trouble occurred.<\/p>\n
The Communion of Churches in Indonesia also expressed concern
\nover the latest developments, saying that \"the politics of
\nviolence\" indicated stagnation in a system which should always
\n\"adjust and change.\"<\/p>\n
Signed by its chairman, Sularso Sopater, the organization
\ncalled on the government and the people to take steps to correct
\nthe situation and make substantial reforms.<\/p>\n
In the East Java capital, Surabaya, more than 100 influential
\nulemas gathered and read a statement condemning the People's
\nDemocratic Party, which the military has accused of masterminding
\nthe riots.<\/p>\n
\"The ulemas, as components of the New Order ... condemn the
\nParty ... the new-style PKI,\" the ulemas said, referring to the
\nnow-outlawed Indonesian Communist Party, in front of chief of
\nEast Java military command Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo.<\/p>\n
Separately, AFP reported that Jakarta's claims that Australian
\nunionists were involved in stirring the political upheaval drew
\nan angry response from the Western Australian Trades and Labor
\nCouncil.<\/p>\n
\"Apparently the Indonesian government is seeking to create a
\nsmokescreen to deflect attention from its own internal struggle,\"
\nsaid Stephanie Mayman, assistant secretary of the council.<\/p>\n
She also blasted the Australian government, saying the council
\n\"is extremely disappointed at the lack of response by the
\nAustralian government to what occurred in Indonesia at the
\nweekend\".<\/p>\n
Mayman acknowledged Australian union links with Indonesian
\nlabor activists, but denied any suggestions that Australian
\nunionists were involved in the Jakarta demonstrations.
\n(15\/imn\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/student-groups-concerned-about-riot-victims-1447893297",
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