Student protests, moral movement without interests?<\/p>\n
By Asip Agus Hasani<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Over the last several weeks, hardly a day
\nwent by without a group of students holding on-campus
\ndemonstrations to demand lower prices for basic commodities and
\neconomic and political reforms.<\/p>\n
In this student city of Yogyakarta, one major demonstration
\nwas one which was held the same day as the 1,000-strong People's
\nConsultative Assembly reelected President Soeharto to his seventh
\nconsecutive term. More than 25,000 students assembled outside the
\nStudents Hall of Gadjah Mada University listening to fiery
\nspeeches by colleagues and seniors.<\/p>\n
Two former rectors -- Teuku Jacob and Koento Wibisono,
\nattended the rally as did critical lecturers including Amien
\nRais, Riswandha Imawan and Moechtar Mas'oed.<\/p>\n
Other demonstrations that followed on other campuses in many
\nother cities such as Surabaya, Bandar Lampung and Jakarta all
\nleft their own mark -- including clashes with security personnel.
\nBut, after launching such pressure on the government, what's
\nnext?<\/p>\n
Student leaders Victor Yasadhana and Ajianto of Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity agreed that theirs was more of a moral force than a
\npolitical movement.<\/p>\n
\"But, after long discussions, we concluded that even moral
\nforce was no longer adequate, because it's temporary and
\nexclusive in nature,\" Victor said. \"We need something more
\npermanent, some organizations which include other elements in
\nsociety.\"<\/p>\n
Riswandha, a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University's School of
\nSocial and Political Sciences, insisted that student activism
\nshould remain a moral movement -- this is where their strength
\nlies, because then they would be free of political interests.<\/p>\n
\"The current wave of student protests is an effort to
\nenlighten the ruling elite, that the problems facing this country
\nare not as simple as they believe. The power holders need input
\nfrom students, who don't have inside interests,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mochtar Mas'oed agreed. \"Student movements serve as a safety
\nvalve... when they criticize the government, no matter how
\nharshly, they have nothing to lose,\" Mochtar said. \"Those who
\nhave things to lose wouldn't have the courage to criticize.<\/p>\n
\"The government should accommodate the students' aspirations,
\nno matter how minimally, so that there won't be a buildup of
\npressure that leads to something even bigger than just
\ndemonstrations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Radical<\/p>\n
Mochtar dismissed the suggestion that the students sought
\nradical change -- something the leaders of the powerful Armed
\nForces have insisted they would never tolerate.<\/p>\n
\"Asking for (presidential) succession as part of political
\nreform is not radical, because there's no change in the
\nConstitution involved,\" Mochtar said.<\/p>\n
Victor defined the economic reform demanded by the students as
\neconomic development that empowered the majority of people. \"In
\nshort, corruption, collusion and nepotism have to be eradicated,\"
\nhe said. \"Development activities should aim at empowering people
\nat the lower levels.\"<\/p>\n
He defined political reform as the abolition of five laws that
\nregulate Indonesian politics and the Armed Forces -- the so-
\ncalled \"package of political laws\" which critics said have
\nstunted people's political participation.<\/p>\n
\"We believe this (the existence of the five laws) is the root
\nof the political problems that have hampered democratization,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Irfan, another student leader, recalled an in-house poll of
\nGadjah Mada students last year, in which the majority (82.8
\npercent) rejected the reelection of President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"We have the responsibility to give voice to the aspirations
\nof our colleagues,\" said Irfan, adding that the students planned
\nto continue their protests until their demands were met.<\/p>\n
\"Just like Pak Amien Rais said, we're giving this new
\nadministration six months, we'll see how it performs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Future<\/p>\n
Koento Wibisono, who is also the chairman of the association
\nof Gadjah Mada alumnus, said the wave of student protests was
\ninevitable given how the social economic situation had
\ndeteriorated while the government had yet to give a sign that it
\nwas effectively coping with the crisis.<\/p>\n
\"The younger generations, particularly students, are facing an
\nuncertain future here.<\/p>\n
\"What they're doing here is seeking a format for their future.
\nIn the face of such a complicated crisis, the only thing they can
\ndo is gather and yell out their concern over the situation,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Riswandha agreed. \"The future should be theirs, but this
\ncrisis makes their future look grim,\" he said. \"If we compare the
\nsituation to a soccer game, the students are only trying to find
\nout in which direction the older people, now in power, kicked the
\nball.<\/p>\n
\"When the New Order was established (by Soeharto three decades
\nago), less than 2 percent of Indonesian people were university
\ngraduates,\" he said. \"Now, their number has increased to 12
\npercent, but 10.98 percent are unemployed.\"<\/p>\n
Riswandha said the students looked set to continue their
\nprotests because the new cabinet had yet to provide concrete
\nanswers about how it would deal with the crisis.<\/p>\n
Victor, however, said their wish to continue rallying had so
\nfar been hampered by pressured from the authorities. \"We won't
\nstop protesting as long as there are still injustices,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Irfan said the students had planned to hold another major
\nrally next month.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/student-protests-moral-movement-without-interests-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}