Campuses quit after massive student protests
Campuses quit after massive student protests
JAKARTA (JP): Students took a break yesterday from incessant
protests as faculty staff from one university decided to suspend
classes after rallies in several major cities Saturday left
dozens injured.
Four students were still being treated here yesterday as a
result of tussles with security officers on various campuses in
the capital.
In Medan, North Sumatra, another university has decided to
suspend campus activities. HKBP Nommensen University will be
closed from today until next Monday after a riotous protest
erupted Saturday.
Deputy rector Rickson Simarmata said yesterday that the
decision was reached by the faculty after an extraordinary
meeting Saturday evening.
Neighboring state-run Sumatra Utara University suspended its
campus activities last week and is scheduled to resume academic
pursuits this week.
On Saturday the demonstration turned violent with a Nissan
minibus taken out of the PT Tri Jaya Deli Kencana showroom on Jl.
Perintis Kemerdekaan, in front of the Nommensen campus, and
burned on the street. A Mitsubishi pick-up and a Timor sedan were
also damaged during the fracas.
Window panes of several shops, including a bank and a Kentucky
Fried Chicken outlet near the campus, were also smashed.
Simarmata refused to immediately lay blame solely on his
students.
"We can no longer tell because so many people from all around
mingled with the students."
Hundreds of students, along with passersby, were involved in
the violent protest that was colored by police and troopers'
firing tear gas.
Simarmata said the decision to suspend academic activities was
taken to calm emotions which were at a high Saturday.
"There will be no activities whatsoever during the week," he
told The Jakarta Post.
In a related development Saturday, two scholars in Semarang,
Central Java, warned of further unrest if the students'
aspirations were not properly accommodated by the government.
Emha Ainun Nadjib once again suggested a previously aired idea
that President Soeharto hand over his power to some kind of
"state council" comprising of several Army generals and noted
public figures in order to respond to calls for political reform.
"For instance (Armed Forces chief) Wiranto, (commander of the
Army's Strategic Reserves Command) Prabowo, Amien Rais, Gus Dur
and Emil Salim could sit down together and find a formula without
there being any casualties."
Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University sociologist Slamet
Soetrisno said that if reforms were not made soon, the country
could begin to disintegrate very quickly.
"The undercurrent movements are now very strong and radical.
Those who are participating in the demonstrations are now not
just students but also laborers."
He thus pointed to the empowerment of the House of
Representatives as one possible remedy to the increasing distrust
of the people.
The House in situations like this must have the courage to ask
and make the president accountable for his actions, he said.
(21/har)