Students protest meddling in PDI, NU<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of students took their protest to the
\nMinistry of Home Affairs yesterday, denouncing what they see as
\ngovernment interference in the internal affairs of Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
Some 30 students from various universities in Garut, Bogor,
\nBandung, and Jakarta unfurled banners and chanted slogans under
\nthe watchful eyes of dozens of security officers.<\/p>\n
\"Stop government intervention\", a poster read. \"Disturbing NU
\nand PDI amounts to dividing the people\", they said in their
\nstatement to journalists.<\/p>\n
After that the officers seized the posters and crumpled them
\nup. The students then dispersed after about 45 minutes without
\nincident.<\/p>\n
Deden, a student from Garut and spokesman for the group, said
\nthey had initially intended to meet with Minister of Home Affairs
\nYogie S.M. but were later told that Yogie was in Solo, Central
\nJava, to attend an affair celebrating PDI's 22nd anniversary.<\/p>\n
\"We are here to express our anxiety about what has been and is
\nhappening within NU and PDI, which we consider the result of
\ngovernment intervention,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
NU and PDI have both been plagued with threats of dissociation
\nfrom within.<\/p>\n
Megawati Sukarnoputri, who was elected as PDI chairperson in
\nthe party national congress in December 1993 , despite tough
\ncompetition from Budi Hardjono, the candidate backed by the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Abdurrahman Wahid, who is currently Chairman of NU,
\nhad a tough time surpassing government-backed Abu Hasan during
\nNU's elections last month.<\/p>\n
Dissatisfied members in each of the organizations are seeking
\nto establish their own separate versions of a central board of
\nexecutives, keeping the conflicts aflame.<\/p>\n
Deden said the group also protested the government's treatment
\nof the organizations, which has, in effect, abused their
\nconstitutionally-guaranteed freedom of association. In addition,
\nhe added that the two organizations are becoming more and more
\npowerless in the face of \"lectures\" and \"guidance\" forced upon
\nthem by the government, particularly the Ministry of Home
\nAffairs\".(pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-protest-meddling-in-pdi-nu-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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