Demonstrations spread through the country

JAKARTA (JP): Students staged demonstrations in various parts of the country on Saturday to condemn the repressive military action seen on the streets of Jakarta on Friday and to demand the resignation of Armed Forces Commander/Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Wiranto.

They demanded the Armed Forces (ABRI) expulsion from the House of Representatives and an end to the dual-function which grants it a role in the nation's political affairs. They also demanded the prosecution of former president Soeharto.

The students also rejected the results of the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, saying that decrees adopted during the four-day meeting were designed to maintain the status quo and were not representative of the people's aspirations.

Around 5,000 students took over Polonia Airport in Medan on Saturday morning to demand free passage to the capital to join students protesters here.

Hundreds of students swarmed onto the runway, chanting "Hang Soeharto, Hang Wiranto", Reuters reported.

They later left peacefully.

In Ujungpandang, about 1,000 students camped on the runway of Hasanuddin airport and, like in Medan, demanded to be taken to Jakarta to join their comrades. They finally left the airport after negotiations with security authorities, who had earlier used tear gas in an attempt to expel them forcefully, AFP reported.

Hundreds of students in Bali also staged a peaceful protest at Ngurah Rai international airport on Saturday, but their action did not disturb air traffic to and from the popular tourist destination.

At least 36 students and seven soldiers were injured in Bengkulu in a clash at the provincial council office. The clash erupted after soldiers tried to prevent around 600 students from entering the grounds of the building to lower the forecourt flag to half-mast. Tear gas was used and many students were beaten, some in the presence of the deputy governor, the head of the local police and other senior local government officials, Antara reported.

Angry students then upended a minivan belonging to the provincial council office.

In Padang, West Sumatra, thousands of Bung Hatta University students clashed with troops in front of an army precinct. Six students and a photographer from Singgalang daily newspaper were injured.

Antara reported that students were on their way to Tabing airport to collect the body of a student from West Sumatra killed in Friday's incident at Semanggi in which 11 other people died.

Meanwhile, six leading figures in West Sumatra issued eight demands which included a call for President B.J. Habibie and his Cabinet to bring an end to the violence gripping the country and to investigate the Semanggi incident.

Around 1,500 students in Malang, East Java, marched toward Suropati Heroes Cemetery and demanded the resignation of Wiranto, saying he had proved himself to be incapable of controlling his own men. The students said he should be held responsible for the beating and shooting of students, journalists and civilians.

In Surabaya, around one hundred students marched through the city before gathering at the Grahardi building to express their demands.

They urged residents of the city to fly flags at half-mast in honor of those who died on Friday.

In Jember, also in East Java, around one hundred students from Jember University attempted to take control of a local military district office. When officers repulsed their assault, the students knelt down and prayed on the road in front of the office.

Protests were also staged by thousands of students in Ambon, Maluku, who occupied a regimental headquarters to demand the resignation of Wiranto and the prosecution of Soeharto.

In Palembang, South Sumatra, students from Sriwijaya University condemned the military in a statement aired on the state radio station RRI and the state television station TVRI.

In Semarang, Central Java, around 1,500 students staged a demonstration in front of the provincial governor's office.

Another group of students calling themselves the Semarang Youth Forum took control of the local RRI studio to air their demands.

In Pekanbaru, Riau, about 100 students held a mass prayer and then aired a statement condemning the Semanggi incident on state radio.

At least 10,000 students from a number of universities in Bandung, West Java, gathered at the provincial council building to lay wreaths in remembrance of those killed at Semanggi. They also joined the chorus of voices criticizing the repressive measures taken by the military.

They said the protesting students were only trying to voice people's aspirations after their attempts to set up a national dialog had received a cool response from the government.

In Surakarta, Central Java, nearly 1,000 students staged a similar protest.

In nearby Yogyakarta, thousands of students occupied an Army precinct on Jl. Malioboro, four kilometers from Gadjah Mada University where they had gathered earlier in the morning.

Students carried banners saying: "Wiranto and Habibie are fascists, bring them to court" and "We are mourning the Semanggi incident".

Another group of students staged a protest in front of the Yogyakarta State Palace at the other end of Jl. Malioboro.

In Bogor, West Java, around 2,000 students took to the streets to reject the results of the Special Session and to express grief over their fallen comrades. (har/23/28/44/24/25/swa/yan/ste)