Students launch hunger strikes, call for reform<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More university students in Java staged protests
\nyesterday demanding political reforms and lower prices for basic
\nfoodstuffs.<\/p>\n
As the 11-day General Session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) entered its third day, seven students from the
\nSurabaya-based Airlangga University initiated a hunger strike.<\/p>\n
The students vowed not to eat until the MPR meets their
\ndemands, which include the highest policy-making body rejecting
\nPresident Soeharto's accountability speech.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by hundreds of students calling themselves OPP, or
\nOrang-orang Peduli Perubahan (People Concerned for Change), the
\nseven students from the Faculty of Social and Political Science
\nalso called for a national referendum to elect a new president
\nand demanded prices of basic commodities be lowered soon.<\/p>\n
\"We are already very concerned about the stagnation of the
\ncountry's democracy. Just to voice our aspirations we are faced
\nwith the security apparatus. Is there still a ray of light for
\ndemocracy in this republic?\" Iwan Hidayat, one of the hunger
\nstrikers, said.<\/p>\n
Before going on the hunger strike, Iwan and hundreds of his
\nfellow students rallied inside the university's compound under
\nthe close surveillance of scores of soldiers and riot police on
\nthe campus' perimeter.<\/p>\n
The students burned tires and released dozens of balloons,
\nsome inscribed with words such as \"Demokrasi Sudah Terbang
\nTinggi\" (Democracy Has Flown Away) and Hentikan Kekerasan
\nTerhadap Rakyat (Stop Violence against the People).<\/p>\n
Hundreds of students from Sunan Ampel Islamic Institute, also
\nin Surabaya, staged a similar demonstration as their Airlangga
\nUniversity counterparts.<\/p>\n
Some of the Sunan Ampel students have also vowed to go on a
\nhunger strike today, sources said.<\/p>\n
One of the institute's deputy rectors, Paruhito, said
\nyesterday that he would not bar students from expressing their
\nconcerns as long as it was done inside the university compound.<\/p>\n
\"Academic freedom has regulated it. But if (they stage their
\ndemonstration) outside, I will not be held responsible,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, scores of soldiers and police were seen patrolling
\nSurabaya, the East Java capital, especially around university
\ncampuses, banks, government buildings and shopping centers.<\/p>\n
However, no violence was reported during the student
\ndemonstrations yesterday.<\/p>\n
Students of the Walisongo Islamic Institute in the Central
\nJava capital of Semarang staged a similar protest inside their
\ncampus compound, demanding the high prices of basic commodities
\nbe lowered.<\/p>\n
Dozens of students of Diponegoro University, also in Semarang,
\nwent to the local city council office to complain about the
\nsoaring prices of education and daily allowances.<\/p>\n
Muhammadiyah University's Student Senate in Surakarta, also in
\nCentral Java, issued a statement demanding the government lower
\nthe prices of basic commodities as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
Dozens of students of Sunan Kalijaga Islamic Institute in
\nYogyakarta also staged a protest.<\/p>\n
\"Lower the prices!, Scrap nepotism, corruption, collusion.
\nReform our political system, refresh the national leadership,\"
\nthey chanted.<\/p>\n
A group of students from Bandung's Islamic University
\n(Unisba), which called itself Unisba Student Activists Forum,
\nalso staged a rally at their campus yesterday, demanding the
\ngovernment slash the prices of foodstuffs by, for instance,
\ncutting the salary of the incoming ministers and MPR members.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, at least 1,500 students from various faculties of
\nthe city's Teachers Training Institute (IKIP) also demanded the
\ngovernment fix the \"current economic turmoil and the corrupt
\npolitical system\".<\/p>\n
Calling themselves Students Solidarity for National Concerns,
\nthe students called the MPR's General Session a \"mere political
\nstage play instead of a session intended to listen to people's
\naspirations\".<\/p>\n
They also demanded the soaring prices of basic commodities be
\nlowered.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's student demonstrations were the second in Jakarta
\nsince the MPR General Session started.<\/p>\n
On Monday, hundreds of University of Indonesia students
\nmarched and opened a free-speech forum at the School of Medicine
\ncompound on Jl. Salemba Raya in Central Jakarta. They demanded
\nlegislators engage in dialog.<\/p>\n
A few days before the session, a series of similar student
\nprotests were also recorded in other major cities in Java and
\nSulawesi.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the rallies yesterday at the University of
\nIndonesia, the university's top official supported the on-campus
\nrallies staged by students, saying that they were using such a
\nforum to contribute their views and opinions and seek a solution
\nto the current economy and leadership crisis.<\/p>\n
Asman Boedisantoso Ranakusuma, UI's rector, boastfully said
\nthat in all the rallies the students had proposed what he called
\n\"fast acting\" medication to the nation's economy as well as the
\nleadership crisis.<\/p>\n
\"I think (the appeals) are good as they are also part of the
\npeople's pleas,\" he said after delivering a speech marking the
\ndonation of basic commodities to some 1,000 UI employees.<\/p>\n
Asman said the university would not take punitive measures
\nagainst the students involved in rallies.<\/p>\n
\"If they rally here (inside the campus), why should we impose
\nsanctions on them?\" he said. (09\/nur\/emf\/23\/43\/aan)<\/p>",
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