Students stage demos again, other mass protests planned<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Around 1,500 students from different groups
\nstaged rallies at several spots in the capital on Tuesday to
\npress their demands for the trial of Soeharto, an investigation
\ninto the Nov.13 incident at Semanggi and an end to the Armed
\nForces (ABRI) dual function.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, two leading student groups -- the Student Action
\nFront for Reform and Democracy (Famred) and City Forum (Forkot)
\n-- said they planned to stage a massive rally to mark World Human
\nRights Day on Thursday.<\/p>\n
No clashes were reported on Tuesday, and all protests started
\nand ended peacefully.<\/p>\n
At Suropati park in Central Jakarta, 700 students from Famred
\ntried to reach the nearby residence of former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The protesters marched from Soemantri Brodjonegoro sports hall
\non Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta and headed to the park after
\nfirst making a stop at the 1966 monument near the Regent Hotel.<\/p>\n
\"We also want (President) Habibie and (Minister of Defense and
\nSecurity\/Armed Forces Commander) Gen. Wiranto to take
\nresponsibility for the Semanggi incident,\" Dino from Famred said.<\/p>\n
\"It's already too much. ABRI seems to be deaf to the people's
\ndemands. They keep their mouths shut and hope we will forget what
\nhas happened,\" the 21-year-old student said.<\/p>\n
As of 6:30 p.m. last night, some Famred members were still
\nhanging around in Suropati park.<\/p>\n
Some danced and sang modified versions of military songs,
\nwhile others waved flags and banners.<\/p>\n
\"Well, we don't feel hurt anymore because we're already used
\nto it,\" said Capt. Firman Shantyabudi, the head of Menteng police
\nsubprecinct.<\/p>\n
Earlier, 100 students grouped in Front Jakarta, a coalition of
\n14 universities in the capital, gathered in the park after being
\nprevented from marching to Soeharto's home on nearby Jl. Cendana.<\/p>\n
\"We want Soeharto to be tried by the people,\" Aris from Front
\nJakarta said.<\/p>\n
Security personnel sealed of roads leading to the former
\npresidents house, but appeared calm and relaxed, with many
\nsitting on the ground.<\/p>\n
\"Well ... I've got stiff feet. If they can sit down and stand
\nup freely, so can I,\" one private said.<\/p>\n
In front of the Attorney General's Office in South Jakarta,
\n300 student protesters grouped in the Communication Forum of
\nJakarta Student Senates (FKSMJ) held a rally to ask the office to
\ndeclare Soeharto a suspected criminal.<\/p>\n
This was the first rally the group has staged since security
\npersonnel ejected them from the same office at midnight on Nov.
\n24.<\/p>\n
\"I know many other students said we were chicken because we
\ndid not stage any more rallies for a while after that,\" FKSMJ's
\nAlawi said.<\/p>\n
No officials were willing to meet with FKSMJ representatives
\nto discuss their demands.<\/p>\n
\"That's okay, we'll come back tomorrow because we want to
\nstage a continuous action,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The crowd dispersed at 3:15 p.m. and went to a campus on Jl.
\nHang Jebat III for a rest.<\/p>\n
The Big Family of the University of Indonesia, another group
\nthat has been absent from demonstrations for some time, also made
\na comeback on Tuesday. Representatives of the group toured the
\ncity handing out flyers advertising the start of a four-day \"Anti
\nABRI Dual Function\" rally.<\/p>\n
\"We'll march from Salemba to the Ministry of Defense and
\nSecurity as part of our activities to mark human rights day,\" Ki
\nJoyo Sardo of the group said.<\/p>\n
He said the students believed that ABRI's dual function was
\nthe reason for many human rights violations.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, the system must be changed,\" he added.<\/p>\n
As of 6 p.m., the group was still rallying on Jl. Raya Pasar
\nRebo in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We want people from all walks of life to join our movement,\"
\nSardo added.<\/p>\n
Wahab from Famred and Adian from Forkot said they have planned
\na huge action for Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"We've targeted several spots, including the Assembly
\nbuilding,\" Adian said.<\/p>\n
\"We have a surprise,\" Wahab winked, saying that other student
\ngroups were in on the plan.<\/p>\n
However, he refused to give any further details. (edt)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-stage-demos-again-other-mass-protests-planned-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }