Black Friday incident resonates

Black Friday incident resonates

From Merdeka

My family and I wish to convey our deepest heartfelt condolences on the death of the students who fell as heroes in their fight for democracy, justice and truth in this reform era.

We were in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, far from Indonesia, and felt extremely saddened by the catastrophe of Nov. 13, what has become known as the Black Friday incident. In particular, the ABC and SBS TV stations in Melbourne showed pictures of the brutality, shooting, hitting, beating, destruction and kicking. Australia's prominent newspapers The Age and The Australian used headline stories to cover the Black Friday incident replete with pictures. It is a disaster in Indonesia's history coinciding with Habibie's rule.

Students, there is still a long way to go for the struggle for justice, truth and democracy. The principal actors of corruption, collusion and nepotism are still roaming free. The only means we can hope for and simultaneously voice the people's message of conscience is through the general election in May 1999. The election must be free, just and honest, without money politics and engineering.

Get yourselves ready to monitor the election or to be witnesses at the polls throughout Indonesia. God willing, your struggle will be blessed.

E. KARTAAMIDJAJA

Melbourne