Students continue pressure of reform<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Students kept up pressure for political reform
\nand lower prices of basic commodities yesterday, holding
\ndemonstrations criticizing the government for the economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
Protests were held yesterday at state and private universities
\nin Surakarta and Sukoharjo in Central Java, Bandung and Bogor in
\nWest Java and here in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
In Surakarta, around 2,000 students from the state-run Sebelas
\nMaret University chanted slogans blaming the government for the
\nongoing crisis.<\/p>\n
The students wanted to deliver a petition to the local
\nlegislature, but were prevented from leaving the campus by
\nsecurity forces.<\/p>\n
Minor scuffles broke out between the students and security
\nofficers before the students dispersed. No violence was reported.<\/p>\n
In Sukoharjo, hundreds of students from the private Bantara
\nUniversity unfurled banners demanding political and economic
\nreforms.<\/p>\n
They also demanded that the new cabinet and the House of
\nRepresentatives work to abolish corruption, collusion and
\nmonopolistic practices.<\/p>\n
In addition to echoing the sentiments of their Central Java
\ncolleagues, hundreds of students from the state-run Padjadjaran
\nUniversity in Bandung and Ibn Khaldun University in Bogor also
\ncriticized the new cabinet line-up.<\/p>\n
They believe the new cabinet reflects a reluctance on the part
\nof the government to launch reforms.<\/p>\n
Students of Parahyangan University and the State Institute of
\nIslamic Studies of Sunan Gunung Djati in Bandung also staged
\nseparate demonstrations yesterday.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, hundreds of students from the Pancasila University
\nin South Jakarta spilled onto the street as they demonstrated
\nagainst the government.<\/p>\n
About 100 armed security personnel lined up in rows in front
\nof the university as students chanted slogans and called on
\nPresident Soeharto to step down.<\/p>\n
The students briefly blocked two lanes of a highway, but
\ndispersed without incident.<\/p>\n
At one stage the university's rector, Subroto, a former
\nminister of mines and energy, stepped into the fray with an
\nappeal to students to have patience with the government's efforts
\nto solve the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Separately, some 500 students of the private Mercu Buana
\nUniversity demonstrated over tuition fees which they felt were
\nburdening them financially. The same university students had
\nearlier staged a demonstration against price hikes last month.<\/p>\n
Separately, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said that the
\nmilitary's recent offer to hold discussions with student groups
\nwas genuine.<\/p>\n
\"The invitation to talk with the students is not mere lip
\nservice but a genuine invitation,\" Wiranto said before attending
\nthe first meeting of the new cabinet in the Bina Graha
\npresidential office yesterday.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said last week students should choose dialogue, not
\nrallies, to air their opinions and aspirations, adding that all
\nlevels of the military were prepared to meet with student groups.<\/p>\n
Security officials have warned they will not tolerate street
\nrallies, but will allow demonstrations to proceed if held within
\nthe confines of university campus sites.<\/p>\n
Several scuffles have broken out between students attempting
\nto take their protests off campus and security forces which have
\nblocked their way. No serious injuries have been reported.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto
\nArismunandar said that he did not consider protest rallies at
\nuniversities, which have involved both students and lecturers, to
\nbe improper.<\/p>\n
\"They are proper and a natural way of expressing their
\nopinions, although they should improve the methods used to
\nconveying their message,\" he said before yesterday's cabinet
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
He said students could instead present proposed solutions to
\nthe economic crisis. (24\/43\/har\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-continue-pressure-of-reform-1447893297",
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