Students vow to take to the streets again<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With outraged students threatening to begin a
\nnew round of protests after Friday's shooting death of a
\ncolleague, human rights activists, student organizations and
\nuniversity administrators condemned the government and military
\non Sunday for the bloodshed from two days of mass street
\nprotests.<\/p>\n
The groups demanded that President B.J. Habibie, Minister of
\nSecurity and Defense\/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen.
\nWiranto and legislators who ended their term of office on Friday
\nbe held responsible for the deaths of the student, five other
\ncivilians and a police officer. Demonstrators clashed with police
\nafter the House of Representatives approved the state security
\nbill on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The University of Indonesia alumni association, Iluni-UI
\nJakarta, said Habibie and Wiranto should be held accountable for
\nthe deaths, which included University of Indonesia student Yap
\nYun Hap.<\/p>\n
\"We call for all people to fight against the tyranny of the
\nHabibie-Wiranto regime and fly their flags at half-staff to
\nexpress their condolences over the incident,\" Budi Arie Setiadi,
\nIluni chairman, said.<\/p>\n
Iluni demanded that TNI and the National Police be held
\nresponsible for the unrest.<\/p>\n
\"We also strongly protest the security forces' brutal attack
\non the university campus in Salemba (on Saturday evening),\" Budi
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The University of Indonesia called for the authorities to find
\nand prosecute the perpetrators of the shooting in accordance with
\nthe law.<\/p>\n
\"Our deepest condolences go to all the relatives of the
\nvictims,\" the university's administrators said in a release.<\/p>\n
\"We deeply regret the incident. Let's remember that violence
\nwill not solve anything. We urge all related parties to restrain
\nthemselves and not be easily provoked by anyone.\"<\/p>\n
The Advocation Team of the Student Movement (Takwa) said the
\nmilitary committed \"repressive actions\" against the thousands of
\nprotesters who took to the streets of Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl.
\nSudirman in Central Jakarta through \"butchering, shooting and
\nbeating\".<\/p>\n
\"We therefore demand that all legislators and 'reform'
\ngovernment of B.J. Habibie be held accountable for the
\nshootings,\" Takwa said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Takwa is a loose alliance of three groups -- the Indonesian
\nLegal Aid and Human Rights Foundation, National Solidarity and
\nthe advocation team of Indonesia Christian University .<\/p>\n
\"The incidents of Sept. 23 to Sept. 24 illustrate that
\nmilitarism is still dominant in this country. Either consciously
\nor not, the legislators and Habibie's administration have let the
\nIndonesian Military invade the public sphere and paralyzed the
\ncivilian movement,\" the group said.<\/p>\n
Takwa demanded the complete revocation of the bill.<\/p>\n
Students across the country protested the bill, which they
\ncharge provides the military with excessive powers, in the last
\nthree weeks before the House's scheduled approval on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Students increased their protests, with the support of many
\nmembers of the public, after it became clear that the bill would
\nbe passed by the House.<\/p>\n
Clashes which began after the bill was passed on Thursday
\nlasted until midnight. They resumed the next morning and
\ncontinued Friday evening. The military announced on Friday night
\nthat enactment of the bill would be postponed.<\/p>\n
Over 100 protesters required hospital treatment for their
\ninjuries, with about 40 remaining in police custody.<\/p>\n
Apart from Yap Yun Hap, the civilians shot dead were Fadly,
\n20, an employee of Surveyor Research Indonesia; Zainal, also 20,
\na resident of Subang, West Java; Jumadi, 12, a street child;
\nSalim, 28, a resident of Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta; and
\nDenny Yulian, a 1998 graduate of Satya Wacana University in
\nSurakarta, Central Java.<\/p>\n
The policeman was killed after being struck by a speeding van.<\/p>\n
Police have said the unrest was masterminded by several groups
\nand individuals, all of whom have denied the accusations.<\/p>\n
The Democratic People's Party (PRD) said: \"PRD rejects the
\nallegation of masterminding the protests against the state
\nsecurity bill. This accusation is merely the old rhetoric of the
\nregime in looking for a scapegoat.\"<\/p>\n
City Forum (Forkot) also attributed the accusation to a
\ngovernment effort to shift blame.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, students have asked for classes to be suspended on
\nMonday, apparently to allow them to resume their protests about
\nthe bloodshed and to call for the revocation of the bill.<\/p>\n
Joko Harpanto, dean of the University of Indonesia's School of
\nTechnology, was quoted by AP on Sunday as saying that the school
\nwould be sympathetic to the students' demands.<\/p>\n
\"We have announced three days of mourning. We will have a
\nclass, but if they want to have a gathering, that's OK,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I have to accommodate their emotions.\" (edt\/bsr)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/students-vow-to-take-to-the-streets-again-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }