Students intensify pressure for reforms<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of students kept up their demands for
\nreforms and lower prices of basic commodities yesterday in on-
\ncampus rallies organized concurrently at dozens of universities.<\/p>\n
At least four campuses here witnessed noisy rallies demanding
\na reshuffle of the cabinet, clean government, lower prices of
\ncommodities and the empowerment of the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Almost 1,000 students gathered at the University of
\nIndonesia's campus on Jl. Salemba, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The university's students were joined by representatives of 15
\ninstitutions from across the country for a free speech forum.
\nParticipants said the government had failed to recognize the
\npeople's sovereignty and they demanded a change in leadership,
\nincluding a reshuffle of what they described as a nepotistic and
\ninept cabinet.<\/p>\n
The largest contingent from other schools was the 200 blue-
\njacketed students from nearby Indonesian Christian University
\n(UKI), which arrived about 30 minutes after the rally began.<\/p>\n
Their arrival caused a mild commotion when they called on
\nstudents from their position outside campus to take the protest
\nonto the streets.<\/p>\n
About 100 uniformed policemen initially moved to disperse the
\ngathering, but subsequently desisted when the students on campus
\nrefrained from taking up the call. Instead, they ringed the
\ncampus perimeter with placards declaring their grievances.<\/p>\n
Although protests and rallies have been tolerated within
\ncampus boundaries, the military has prohibited students from
\nventuring onto the streets.<\/p>\n
Students have been increasingly vociferous in expressing their
\ndiscontent at the deepening crisis. Several campuses throughout
\nthe country have been the sites of rallies.<\/p>\n
Yesterday was the first time protests were organized
\nsimultaneously in the capital.<\/p>\n
A University of Indonesia student leader, Suma Mihardja, said
\nyesterday that rallies were held concurrently on 35 campuses in
\nthe greater Jakarta area.<\/p>\n
In another high-profile protest, 200 students gathered at the
\nInstitute of Social and Political Sciences in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Carrying banners and posters, they began to walk off their
\ncampuses but retreated after a peaceful exchange with police.<\/p>\n
An almost identical scene occurred at the National Institute
\nof Science and Technology, as students complied with the urgings
\nof police to stay on campus.<\/p>\n
Adi Andojo<\/p>\n
At the Trisakti University campus in West Jakarta, former
\ndeputy chief justice Adi Andojo Soetjipto, currently dean of the
\nuniversity's law school, was the main attraction at a rally.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Adi said the government should take heed of the
\nstudents' demands. He encouraged Minister of Education and
\nCulture Wiranto Arismunandar to be accommodative and listen to
\nwhat students had to say.<\/p>\n
He also urged the 1,000 students in attendance to refrain from
\nradical and emotional actions in conveying their aspirations.<\/p>\n
Adi retired in May after serving 18 years as deputy chief
\njustice. He made headlines during his tenure by claiming that
\ncollusion was rampant in the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
There were no reports of clashes in any of the rallies in
\nJakarta, with the cooperation of students apparently working to
\nprevent serious altercations with security personnel.<\/p>\n
With protests restricted to campuses, there was also little
\ndisruption in the daily activities of the city.<\/p>\n
Students rallies in Jakarta have not been marred by the
\nviolent clashes with security apparatus which have occurred in
\nYogyakarta; Surabaya, East Java; Surakarta and Purwokerto in
\nCentral Java; Bandung, West Java, and Bandarlampung, Lampung.<\/p>\n
Protests and rallies were also held at about two dozen
\ncampuses across the country.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, East Java, three of the city's largest campuses
\n-- the state-run Airlangga University, Surabaya Institute of
\nTechnology (ITS) and Adhi Tama Institute of Technology -- were
\nthe site of rallies demanding political and economic reforms and
\nthe elimination of nepotism.<\/p>\n
About 1,000 ITS students loudly condemned Minister of
\nEducation and Culture Wiranto Arismundar's ban on student
\ninvolvement in practical politics.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, Central Java, hundreds of students of Diponegoro
\nUniversity bore banners with messages including, \"We need a
\nskillful and competent cabinet\".<\/p>\n
In Malang, East Java, students of the Teachers Training
\nInstitute and Brawijaya University sang songs denouncing
\ncorruption, collusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, West Java, hundreds of students jostled with
\ndozens of police armed with sticks inside the campus of the
\nstate-run Padjajaran University.<\/p>\n
Four students were injured in the scuffle that broke out when
\nthey tried to leave the campus, private TV station ANteve
\nreported yesterday. (24\/edt\/har\/ivy\/nur\/byg)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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