Students continue with demonstrations for reform<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Students in many cities continued rallying for
\nreform yesterday, with most demanding a fresh presidential
\nelection through a special session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) and the trial of former president Soeharto for
\nalleged abuses of power.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, thousands of students held separate rallies in
\nuniversity campuses, expressing gratitude for Soeharto's
\nresignation but calling for an investigation into the alleged
\nwealth of the former president. \"Reveal, in a transparent manner,
\nhow Soeharto amassed his wealth,\" said one student in a rally at
\nIndonesian Islamic University.<\/p>\n
The same call was made separately by a group of 300 students
\nwho called themselves the People's Committee for Reform at Gadjah
\nMada University campus. The students said Soeharto must not be
\nallowed to wash his hands of the policies which brought about the
\ncrisis now facing Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Don't let him go without facing the law,\" said one student in
\nthe demonstration that ended peacefully after two and half hours.<\/p>\n
Also in the city, a group of 1,000 members of Yogyakarta
\nMoslem Students League held a rally calling for an extraordinary
\nsession of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to demand
\nSoeharto account for his leadership and his alleged wealth.<\/p>\n
The group also demanded that the \"transitional administration\"
\nunder President B.J. Habibie hold general elections within three
\nmonths. They said the current MPR was a product of political
\nengineering, and that a fresh election was needed to establish a
\nbetter government.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, East Java, 200 students from four universities
\nmarched to the local legislative council to demand a special MPR
\nsession and legal action against Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Calling themselves \"Children of Reform\", the activists said
\ntheir fight had not ended with Soeharto's resignation and
\nHabibie's appointment. They said they would continue to press for
\na special session and \"total reform.\"<\/p>\n
\"A special session would be the constitutional way to transfer
\npower, because Soeharto would then have to account for his work
\nduring his time in office,\" said one of the students.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, the capital of Central Java, hundreds of female
\nstudents from various universities gathered at Simpanglima Square
\nto express gratitude for \"national unity, and the peaceful and
\norderly transfer of the national leadership.\"<\/p>\n
The students, Moslem girls wearing green veils and headbands
\nemblazoned with \"KAMMI\" (Association of Moslem Students Action
\nFront), began their rally at 11 a.m., chanting Allahuakbar (Allah
\nthe Greatest) and shalawat (praises for Prophet Muhammad).<\/p>\n
They brought posters and banners which read: \"Praise be to
\nAllah, Soeharto resigns.\" The students dispersed peacefully an
\nhour later.<\/p>\n
In Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, around 5,000 members
\nof the Nationalist Students Movement (GMNI) and 35 non-
\ngovernmental organizations grouped in an alliance called Pro-
\nDemocracy Solidarity, held a rally at the provincial legislative
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
Orating speeches and waving banners, the youths demanded that
\nan extraordinary session of the MPR be convened as soon as
\npossible. Habibie's government was transitional in nature, born
\nin an emergency, and was not in line with the Constitution.<\/p>\n
The students also demanded that Soeharto be held accountable
\nfor mistakes made during his administration, and that the MPR
\ninvestigate his alleged wealth.<\/p>\n
The students then called on the MPR to initiate total reform
\nin political, economic, legal, and social and culture fields.<\/p>\n
The protesters made legislators Hazrul Azwar, Leo Sukardi and
\nAminullah Purba join their demonstration, then chased them when
\nthey attempted to leave to say their Friday prayers at the
\nmosque.<\/p>\n
One of the student leaders and lecturers from St. Thomas
\nCatholic University later apologized to the Moslem legislators.
\n(23\/44\/21\/nur\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-continue-with-demonstrations-for-reform-1447893297",
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