30,000 students demonstrate at House building
30,000 students demonstrate at House building
JAKARTA (JP): The vast compound and complex of the domed House
of Representatives was speckled with the bright colors of the
university jackets worn by students yesterday.
The scene looked like a gigantic rainbow, made all the more
colorful by the banners and noisy speeches demanding the
immediate resignation of President Soeharto.
A crowd of some 30,000 students, alumni and lecturers from
universities in Greater Jakarta and West Java mingled with
professionals in and around the House and spoke of their united
aspirations.
They slung colorful hand-made banners from the roof
proclaiming: "Bring Soeharto to court, dismiss the elected House
of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly",
"Bring Down Soeharto", "Cabinet reshuffle does not solve our
problem", "Bring down Soeharto and Habibie."
In the lobby, students occupied every visible space.
They mingled in groups, and staged protest sketches, dances,
simple musical recitals, and read out poetry.
Some gathered in groups and sang songs to rhythms beaten out
on mineral water bottles.
Dozens of students from Jakarta Economics Institute made a big
circle and danced from one pillar to another pillar while singing
protest songs.
Other students marched a bier decorated with flowers and
covered in black cloth back and forth in the lobby while chanting
Soeharto Turun (Soeharto, step down).
Banners were placed on the walls of the building and two were
raised on the twin flag-poles at the entrance to the building.
Students from University of Indonesia arrived later in the
afternoon carrying an effigy attired in a black coat with
Soeharto's smiling picture. A sash with "condolences" written on
it was wrapped around the body.
The effigy was warmly applauded by fellow students who had
been sitting on the steps outside the building for hours.
Another group of students from Ibnu Chaldun University in East
Jakarta carried a coffin bier inscribed with "Soeharto must step
down".
During a brief speech to the gathered crowds, Adnan Buyung
Nasution -- who joined the crowd after meeting with House
representatives -- said Soeharto should learn from the movements
in the Philippines and Zaire, where Ferdinand Marcos and Mobutu
Sese Seko were toppled by people power.
Students grouped themselves in the cool shade of the building
and opened free speech forums. They all took turns to voice their
aspirations with the help of megaphones.
A student from Jakarta Institute of Art in Central Jakarta
staged a theatrical performance in the grounds.
He covered himself with red and white paint and danced
awkwardly in an effort to describe the Indonesian people's
suffering. Fellow students provided him with a drum beat.
A group of women activists calling themselves the Indonesian
Women's Coalition for Justice and Democracy joined students
rallying at the House yesterday.
Human Rights activist Nursjahbani Katjasungkana told the
crowd: "We demand a referendum to elect a new President."
Some students planned to spend the night in the grounds of the
House and were busy setting up temporary shelters and a kitchen.
"Almost all of us will stay here tonight to wait for the big
event tomorrow (today)," Ian, a student activist from UI, said.
(ivy/emf)