Students warn of collapse<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA: Some 30 students representing 12 universities in
\nYogyakarta marched to the provincial legislative council on
\nThursday to warn the country's political elite that the country
\nwas in danger of disintegrating.<\/p>\n
Claiming to belong to the All-Indonesian Students Executive
\nBody (BEMI), the students demanded that local legislators take
\ntheir aspirations seriously. \"Our voices have been neglected by
\nthe national and local (political) elite,\" said Alif Basuki, the
\ngroup's spokesman.<\/p>\n
\"We are sick of the political conflict, which only makes
\npeople poorer and poorer,\" he said.<\/p>\n
BEMI is calling for a political cool down for the sake of
\nnational unity.<\/p>\n
The students also demanded that the government focus on
\npolicies which put the people's interest first. \"The Indonesian
\ngovernment should prioritize an increase in minimum wages,
\ncheaper education and the creation of employment opportunities,\"
\nsaid Alif.<\/p>\n
BEMI also regretted the fact that some campuses had been
\nmarred by political interests in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"The students must not be involved in any movements linked to
\npolitics,\" said Alif.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Denpasar, the capital of Bali province, dozens of
\nUdayana University students staged a peaceful protest on Thursday
\ndemanding, among other things, the dissolution of the Golkar
\nParty.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar was the backbone of the New Order regime, which did
\nnothing but committed corruption, damaging and exploiting the
\ncountry for 32 years. Ironically, the party has never been held
\nresponsibility for all those things,\" a protester shouted.<\/p>\n
The students made speeches and distributed leaflets to
\nmotorists passing along Jl. Dewi Sartika.<\/p>\n
The protesters, claiming to be members of the People's
\nMovement Against the New Order, also warned members of the
\npolitical elite to stop their fruitless bickering. (23\/zen)<\/p>",
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