Forkot denies communist links, says no demo planned
Forkot denies communist links, says no demo planned
JAKARTA (JP): Forum Kota (Forkot), a loose association of
students from 39 colleges in Jakarta, has denied accusations that
it is communist-inspired and that it has planned to stage massive
street demonstrations nationwide on Sept. 30.
In a statement on Monday, Forkot also said that accusations
that it was an anti-Islam group were baseless since many of its
members were students of Islamic universities.
"It's wrong to accuse Forkot as anti-Islam because members of
the forum include students of the state-run Institute for Islamic
Studies IAIN As-Syafi'iyah, Ibnu Chaldun University and others,"
the statement said.
The association slammed Republika and Panji Masyarakat for
reports which it said suggested the communist-links.
It cited a headline story carried in Republika's Sept. 25
edition that read: ABRI Waspadai Gerakan G30'S Forkot (ABRI Keeps
Close Watch on Forkot G30'S).
G30S, short for Gerakan 30 September (the Sept. 30 Movement),
refers to the 1965 aborted coup blamed on the now-defunct
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
Forkot also denied links with opposition figures grouped in
the National Front led by retired army general A. Kemal Idris or
to the popular Megawati Soekarnoputri.
"Forum Kota is an independent student action front, and has no
patron-client relationships whatsoever with any political groups
or elites," it said.
The group denied having any plans to hold massive street
protests as some leaflets and rumors have said.
"So if there are protests on that date, they are not Forkot's
responsibility."
A delegation of 46 Forkot members demonstrated on Monday at
the Republika office, demanding the daily run an apology on its
front page for three consecutive days. They were met by, among
others, general manager Haidar Bagir and chief editor Makmur A.
Makka.
The daily executives rejected the demand, saying they would
look into whether their journalist had made any mistakes in the
report.
In Medan, North Sumatra, members of Golkar-affiliate National
Committee of Indonesian Youth (KNPI) and several other youth
groups pledged to hold a counterprotest against any communist-
inspired protests.
Activists Husni Malik and Yusuf Malik of the North Sumatra 66
Exponent youth group said the recent wave of student protests had
endangered unity in the Armed Forces (ABRI).
They said public condemnations against ABRI must be stopped
now that the military had launched internal reforms.
Activist Marzuki of Golkar Task Force added: "We won't allow
(the continued condemnation of ABRI)." (21/25/aan)