Students continue demands for independence<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): University students here
\npledged on Sunday to continue their street rallies to demand an
\nindependent state.<\/p>\n
A student leader said a huge demonstration was organized for
\nMonday to announce the establishment of the Independent Sulawesi
\nPreparation Committee.<\/p>\n
\"Some student coordinators are currently meeting to discuss
\nthe plan,\" the coordinator of Independent Makassar Students,
\nIswari Al Farisy, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Apart from the committee, the students plan to set up a youth
\ngroup to carry out security jobs.<\/p>\n
Iswari said both the committee and the youth group would
\nmainly involve local students and youths. \"The concepts of both
\norganizations are now being discussed,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"Our main goal is to establish an independent Sulawesi state,
\nbut if any of the eastern Indonesian provinces want follow in our
\nfootsteps, we will welcome them as brothers\", Iswari said.<\/p>\n
The student rally continued on Sunday around Makassar State
\nUniversity and Indonesian Muslim University campuses, although
\nonly a few demonstrators turned up. They did not blockade roads
\nnor burn tires as on the previous two days.<\/p>\n
\"We intentionally avoided a big rally today to allow our
\nfellow students to rest while the others discuss actions for
\nMonday,\" Iswari said.<\/p>\n
He claimed that the local students' demand had received a
\npositive response from students in other provinces.<\/p>\n
\"Our movement will not cease until our demand is fulfilled\",
\nhe vowed.<\/p>\n
The student rallies result from disappointment over the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, which they accused of failing to
\naccommodate aspirations from people in eastern Indonesia,
\nparticularly Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
\"Our movement was sparked by injustice, which we are now
\nexperiencing,\" he added.<\/p>\n
In one of their statements, they protested the Assembly's vote
\nagainst accepting the accountability speech delivered by former
\npresident B.J. Habibie, who is a South Sulawesi native. The
\nrejection led to Habibie's withdrawal from the presidential
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Iswari called on politicians from eastern Indonesia to refuse
\nany offers to be in the Cabinet under President Abdurrahman
\nWahid. They should return to their home soil to support the
\nestablishment of an independent Sulawesi state, Iswari added.<\/p>\n
Calls have mounted for the students to refrain from violence.<\/p>\n
While playing down the students' demand, South Sulawesi
\nGovernor HZB Palaguna has warned rectors and students against
\ncausing anarchy.<\/p>\n
Andi Muis, senior law and mass communications lecturer at
\nHasannudin University, also suggested that the students
\nreconsider their movement.<\/p>\n
\"I don't agree to the movement if it is due to disappointment
\nover Habibie's failure to win his reelection bid. But if the
\nmovement is the fruit of unfair treatment of eastern Indonesia by
\nthe central government, I can understand why the movement rolls
\non,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Jakarta often disregarded the needs of eastern
\nIndonesia, especially Sulawesi, in politics, culture and the
\neconomy. He also complained about the lack of media coverage on
\nSulawesi.<\/p>\n
Muis suggested the central government be wise in solving the
\ncase. (27\/02)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-continue-demands-for-independence-1447893297",
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