Activists march against officials over smuggling
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon
Hundreds of students and young people from a number of universities and non-governmental organizations rallied on Tuesday to demand that all officials implicated in a prominent smuggling case in Cirebon resign.
The incident involved 19 shipping containers, which contained luxury cars and electronic equipment.
The demonstrators, united under the Action Forum for Anti- Smuggling Students and Youths (FAMPAP), occupied the office building of the Cirebon mayor for three hours on Tuesday.
They included members of the National Movement of Indonesian Students (GMNI); Youth Democrat; the Students' Solidarity for Democracy (Basis); Sunan Gunung Jati University, and the state School of Islamic Religion.
They demanded that everyone involved should resolve the issue thoroughly and transparently.
The luxury cars and electronic goods, which were valued altogether at Rp 20.5 billion, entered Cirebon from Singapore on Jan. 10, under the name of PT Tiang Grage.
They were brought into the port by Santosa Jaya Ships under a Panamanian flag.
Cirebon Customs and Excise officials released 17 of the 19 containers, claiming that only two of them were illegal, and thus needed for the investigation.
The action prompted the municipality's legislative council to issue a vote of no confidence against the customs office, police and the prosecutors office; local students and youths likewise responded by staging rallies to protest the action.
Their Tuesday demonstration was part of a series of rallies to demand a thorough solution to the incident.
FAMPAP Coordinators Andri Fernandi and Chaerudin told The Jakarta Post that they would continue demonstrating until it was clear that the case would be solved in its entirety.
"The police, prosecutors, and Customs and excise agencies had been known for their corruption," Andri said.
They asked that the 17 containers already released by the customs office be returned to the port and held there until they have been proven to be part of the smuggling incident.
"We'll cooperate with the legislative council to force the relevant institutions to pay serious attention to the public interest in upholding the law," said Andri.
During the rally, the demonstrators managed to force Cirebon Mayor Lesmana Suryaatmadja, lead prosecutor Iskamto, Deputy Chief of Cirebon Police Precinct, Comr. Aris, and Customs and Excise office head Tarsiwan to come out of their offices to give them an audience.
The pale-faced officials promised to thoroughly solve the case. But the demonstrators ignored their words, and asked them to resign instead.
The council deputy chairman Haris Sutamin said he supported the demonstrators' desires.
Referring to those involved in the scandal, he said, "This will teach them a lesson; other officials will pay more attention to smuggling and corruption in the future, as well."