'Agents provocateurs at work among students'
'Agents provocateurs at work among students'
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Juwono
Sudarsono warned students on Sunday that certain groups working
to pit them against the security apparatus sparked the bloody
clashes on Friday and Saturday.
He urged the academic community to consolidate and abide by
the law when staging a demonstration to ensure it proceeded in an
orderly and safe manner.
"This consolidation is very important, bearing in mind that
some demonstrations became heated after they were infiltrated,"
said Juwono. He said he was speaking in his capacity as a
minister, a university staff lecturer and a parent of students.
Although not advocating an end to the demonstrations, Juwono
appealed to students to gradually resume their academic
activities.
The minister's appeal received a cool response from some of
student activists, especially those vowing to continue the fight
for reform.
In a declaration read on Sunday at the Atma Jaya Catholic
University, three student groups -- Jakarta Front, Forbes and
Famred -- asked all students and lecturers nationwide to stay
away from their campuses for three days beginning on Monday.
They also exhorted people from all walks of life to join a
three-day national strike as a form of nonviolent resistance
against the brutality displayed by the security forces.
"As a form of national solidarity, please stay at home and
stop any official work. But please be alert and do not easily
believe in provocation," Edisyah from the Jakarta Front said.
The groups' representatives also requested that the public fly
the national flag at half-staff as a sign of mourning for those
killed in clashes on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13.
The nation is grieving from the horrific acts, the groups'
said.
"We believe that starting from the day the military used their
weapons to shoot unarmed people and students, the country is in
deep grief," Edisyah said.
The students also derided the final results of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) Special Session, saying they
contravened national policies and were "filled with blood".
They repeated their demands for a fresh transitional
government to replace President B.J. Habibie's administration.
"We demand a transitional government which should be led by
people from political parties and other elements that have been
proven to be real qualified professionals," he said.
As of Sunday afternoon, many students remained at the Atma
Jaya campus as bouquets of flowers and free meal packages arrived
at the site from those concerned about their struggle.
"We'll summon student coordinators (late Sunday) to arrange
for a new plan," Wahab from Jakarta University said.
"And one thing is for sure, we're not giving up. They (the
military) have had enough victims." (emb/emf)