Beating of students

Beating of students

From Merdeka

We wish to express our deep concern over the violent act committed by the security apparatus against our fellow students in Jakarta (March 4), making a number of students victims. This arbitrary act by the security apparatus has only served to prove to us that the Armed Forces (ABRI) still cannot assume the position of a neutral party. It remains in the position it had during the New Order era, namely serving the interests of the powers-that-be instead of the people.

The acts of violence that ABRI has continually committed against the Indonesian people have left a deep wound in their hearts, a condition which will only worsen ABRI's image in their eyes and make them distrustful of the military. Therefore, the Armed Forces should seriously review its position to ensure that it won't lose everything in the eyes of the Indonesian people as a result of allowing itself to be a mere instrument of the authorities.

The incident on March 3 will only make us, the Indonesian students, strengthen our determination to continue struggling in order to bring about total democracy-orientated reform in Indonesia, which the Habibie regime has now betrayed.

Keep up the struggle! Establish a government in transition which will organize the general election, scrap the socio- political role of the military and take Soeharto and his cronies to court.

DODI CH

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