East Java Menwa protest disbandment

JAKARTA: Around 1,000 members of university paramilitary regiments from 60 universities in East Java gathered at the governor's office here on Monday to protest the dissolution of the paramilitary force.

But students, all members of the Mahasurya paramilitary regiment, failed to meet with Governor Imam Utomo who was away inspecting the venues of the upcoming 15th National Games.

They thus had to be content with making speeches in front of the building to protest the government's decision to revoke a 1975 Joint Ministerial Decree on the student regiments' existence.

They insisted that the dissolution was a violation of human rights.

Separately in Bandung, West Java, assistant rector Isnu Wardianto at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) told reporters on Saturday that the institute has decided to keep its student regiment.

Isnu said the regiment had played a positive role in developing students' mentality and attitude. (25/09)