Students protest nepotism at MPR\/DPR compound<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of students staged a peaceful rally in
\nfront of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)\/House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) building on Tuesday, demanding the Assembly
\nremove members involved in corruption, collusion and nepotism
\n(KKN).<\/p>\n
The students also asked the Assembly to democratically set up
\na transitional government, which would obtain legitimacy from the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
The protesters, who came from 25 universities in Greater
\nJakarta grouped in the Communication Forum of Jakarta Student
\nSenates (FKSMJ), opened a free-speech forum and crowded onto the
\nroad in front of the complex, while 20 of their representatives
\nwere received by the deputy House speaker from the Armed Forces
\nfaction, Hari Sabarno.<\/p>\n
Besides demanding the expulsion of members involved in KKN
\npractices, the Assembly was also asked to expel those who were
\nantireform and Soehartoists.<\/p>\n
\"We demand that any Assembly members, who want to defend the
\nSoeharto regime, step down because we are sure they would not
\nestablish fair fundamentals for reform during the extraordinary
\nsession scheduled for next month,\" a student from National
\nUniversity, who asked not to be named, said in the free-speech
\nforum.<\/p>\n
The students also asked the Assembly to revoke MPR Decree No.
\nIV\/1998 on the appointment of Soeharto as president for the
\n1998\/2003 term, Decree No. VI\/1998 on the appointment of then
\nstate minister of research and technology B.J. Habibie as vice
\npresident and Decree No. V\/1998 on the granting of extraordinary
\npowers to the president to take emergency steps to protect
\nnational unity and to secure national development.<\/p>\n
\"Whoever heads the transitional government should allow
\npresidential contestants from all parts of the nation, not just a
\nsingle candidate. The nominations should also be announced
\npublicly across the nation,\" they said.<\/p>\n
The transitional government, they said, must be able to bring
\nthe suspects of any political crimes to trial, investigate the
\nwealth of former president Soeharto and set up a trustworthy and
\nfair team for the 1999 general election.<\/p>\n
\"It's important for the Assembly to demand Soeharto's
\naccountability. We don't trust Habibie's government,\" said Popon,
\nthe chairman of Krisnadwipayana University student senate.<\/p>\n
The protesters also unfurled banners, some of which said:
\n\"Clean the MPR\/DPR of corruption, collusion and nepotism,
\ncounterreform members and Soehartoists\", \"Enough! 32 years we
\nwere fooled and deceived, we don't need it anymore. Fight back!\",
\n\"Extraordinary session is not an instrument to strengthen a
\nregime\" and \"Indonesia is not a nonsense democratic state\".<\/p>\n
The 20 student representatives, who were allowed to meet
\nDeputy Speaker Hari Sabarno, were forced to pass through three
\nlayers of 200 armed police and military personnel.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, student spokesman Sarbini read their demands
\nand asked for a follow-up from the House.<\/p>\n
Hari said he would discuss the demands with the chairmen of
\nthe other factions, who will take part in the extraordinary
\nsession which is scheduled for Nov. 10 through Nov. 13.<\/p>\n
\"The demand shows the student's awareness of the nation. We
\nwill extend it to other faction's chairmen and debate it in the
\nextraordinary session,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said each faction had cleaned their ranks of House members
\ninvolved in corruption, collusion and nepotism.<\/p>\n
Sarbini, chairman of 17 August University student senate, said
\nthat the House would be given three days to respond to their
\ndemand or they would stage another rally.<\/p>\n
He also asserted that the rally was purely a moral movement.<\/p>\n
\"We didn't receive support from other parties,\" he told
\nreporters.<\/p>\n
After about four hours of rallying, the students dispersed
\npeacefully. (aan\/ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-protest-nepotism-at-mprdpr-compound-1447893297",
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