Activists march against officials over smuggling
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."