Student protests go on in several cities<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Students in several cities, in a move resembling
\ntheir colleagues' stand in Jakarta recently, are occupying local
\nlegislative councils to make their demands heard.<\/p>\n
While those in Jakarta took over the House of
\nRepresentatives\/People's Consultative Assembly building in order
\nto press former president Soeharto to resign, those in Jambi have
\nbeen occupying the provincial legislature and governor's office
\nin their fight against rampant gambling.<\/p>\n
Students in Ujungpandang, the capital of South Sulawesi, are
\noccupying the legislative council building to demand that
\nGovernor Z.B. Palaguna, whom they considered corrupt, to step
\ndown.<\/p>\n
Antara reported from Jambi, the capital of Jambi, that dozens
\nof students of Sultan Thaha Saifuddin Institute for Islamic
\nStudies have entered the fourth day of their occupation of the
\nlegislative building yesterday, while those from Jambi University
\ncamped out at the governor's office.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, they held free speech forums lashing out at
\nauthorities who have allowed various forms of gambling to
\nflourish in the province of 2.4 million. The capital's population
\nis 412,000.<\/p>\n
Both groups said separately that they would not budge until
\nthe authorities burned down all slot machines.<\/p>\n
Joeslin Nasution, a legislator of the United Development
\nParty, joined the free speech forum staged by the IAIN students
\nand pledged to bring the students' demand to the attention of the
\nHouse.<\/p>\n
Provincial council chairman Chaeruddin was also supportive of
\nthe students' demand and said his office would pressure the
\nmilitary to get rid of all gambling machines.<\/p>\n
In Ujungpandang, hundreds of students from 42 universities
\noccupying the provincial council building are demanding that
\nGovernor Palaguna be held accountable for what they described as
\nrampant corruption, collusion and nepotism in the province.<\/p>\n
They said that they would not leave the building until the
\ngovernor stood down.<\/p>\n
"We also demand the auditing of local officials' wealth," said
\nMuh Ichsan, chairman of the Association of Makassar Students .<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Suadi Marasabessy, chief of the Wirabuana Military
\nCommand overseeing Sulawesi, joined a free speech forum staged by
\nstudents on Saturday but reminded them that the provincial
\ncouncil had no authority to sack the governor.<\/p>\n
Only the president has authority to sack a governor, he said.<\/p>\n
Kallo Bandaso, the provincial council's deputy chairman, said
\nhe would bring the students' demand to the provincial council and
\nconsult the governor about it.<\/p>\n
"The students' demand will be channeled to the central
\ngovernment, although it is not the provincial council's stance,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Palaguna said that he would allow himself to be
\naudited.<\/p>\n
He said that all local officials were also expected to
\nvolunteer to do the same if needed.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, East Java, nine soldiers were punished for their
\n"disciplinary actions" in handling student demonstrations. There
\nwere no details given about the violation but some student
\ndemonstrations in the province had been handled forcefully by the
\nmilitary.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman, chief of the Brawijaya Military
\nCommand overseeing East Java, said that the nine soldiers were
\nserving detention sentences of two week.<\/p>\n
"Soldiers should be strict in enforcing the law but on the
\nother hand, strict actions will certainly be taken against those
\nviolating the law," he said yesterday after briefing 1,000
\nmilitary and police officers in the city. (37\/rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/student-protests-go-on-in-several-cities-1447893297",
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