Djadja wants no rallies to mark Trisakti shooting

JAKARTA (JP): City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman on Thursday asked students to cancel their plan for a mammoth rally next week to observe the first anniversary of the fatal Trisakti University shooting.

The Trisakti incident sparked major riots, which finally forced president Soeharto, who had been in power for 32 years, to resign on May 21.

According to Djadja, the event would only be used by individuals or groups to trigger a clash between demonstrators and security personnel.

"We've heard the plan. But I hope they (students) will halt their plan," he said after inspecting a company of 355 personnel of the Air Defense Artillery Battalion at their camp in Bintaro, South Jakarta.

The two-star Army general said he had heard rumors a series of big street rallies would take place in the capital from May 12 to May 19 to commemorate the Trisakti incident.

He said based on the tentative scenario of the rumors, the huge number of demonstrators would first have a standoff with the troops before the tense situation turned into a bloody clash and security officers were forced to establish control.

"Certain people have tried to confront the Armed Forces (TNI) with the students." Djadja said.

He said "rumors of the big rallies have worried the public".

The May 12 shooting by security troops against a sea of protesting Trisakti students inside and around their Grogol campus in West Jakarta claimed the lives of four students.

Djadja praised Trisakti University efforts to notify security authorities of a planned commemoration of the tragedy in a modest ceremony inside their campus.

But he acknowledged he had no right to prohibit people observing the tragedy by taking to the streets, particularly if they had already notified police.

"If the demonstrators have already notified the police about their action, then why not? We would then help the police to secure the event," Djadja said.

He reminded organizers that a safe environment in the city was needed, especially several days before, during and after the May 19 to June 4 campaigning weeks and the June 7 poll.

He called on Jakartans from all walks of life to work hand in hand with security authorities to help create favorable and safe conditions.

"We're sure the elections will be held safely. So far, the widespread rumors of possible riots ahead of the poll are groundless."

He reiterated that the shooting of the Trisakti students was still under investigation by the city's military police.

He regretted that many witnesses in the case had refused to testify without clear reasons, saying that earlier they had indicated a willingness to testify.

On Tuesday, student groups from several universities announced plans to mobilize thousands of students for a huge street rally to commemorate the tragedy next Wednesday.

Representatives of the groups, including the City Forum (Forkot), the Students Front for Reform and Democracy (Famred), the Communication Forum for Jakarta Student Senates (FKSMJ) and the Trisakti Student Family (Kamtri), have stated their readiness to join the rally.

Separately, Trisakti students announced on Thursday they had decided to cancel their plan for holding a street rally for the May 12 tragedy, citing possible clashes prompted by provocateurs.

They would stage campus activities and visit the cemeteries of the four dead student victims from May 8 to May 13, Trisakti University student presidium spokesman Gunawan said.

"Instead of taking to the streets, we'll focus our activities by reflecting on how to avoid such a tragedy happening in the future."

Gunawan said that Trisakti welcomed other students at the event, since it was a national tragedy.

The theme of the first anniversary is: "With the May 12 spirit, (let's) solve the Trisakti shootings and save the nation."

Authorities have yet to pinpoint those responsible for the killings.

Usman Hamid, a member of the Trisakti investigation team, said on Thursday forensic experts at Singapore General Hospital had failed to examine traces of the projectiles used in the shooting, which could have indicated the guns used.

On April 22, the hospital told the team, which included representatives from the Jakarta Military Police, Trisakti University, state-run Pindad military equipment-maker and metallurgical engineers from Bandung Institute of Technology, the failure was due to "technical problems", Usman said.

"The hospital then suggested the team seek assistance from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation," he said. (jun/01)