Forkot to stage rally during MPR Session

Forkot to stage rally during MPR Session

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of university students grouped under
the City Forum (Forkot) will take to the capital's main
thoroughfares to stage a massive rally during the Aug. 7 through
Aug. 18 General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), its executive said on Sunday.

Maximillianus, a coordinator of the organization, said he and
his fellow students would reject any decisions from the annual
session unless they could see former president Soeharto stand
trial for his alleged crimes against humanity.

"But if the government refuses to try Soeharto in court for
his crimes, we will reject the General Session," said
Maximillianus, known also as Mixil, a sixth semester student of
the School of Syariah Islamic law at the State Academy of Islamic
Studies (IAIN).

He insisted that Forkot had no interest in the ongoing efforts
by the government to try Soeharto for his alleged embezzlement of
many trillions of rupiah from foundations he founded during his
32-year rule.

"Soeharto should be tried over the July 27 (1996) incident,
the Malari case, the Tanjung Priok shooting and several riots
nationwide, where through his orders, thousands lost their lives
and families," said the student, who was arrested last May for
the possession of molotov cocktails during a mass protest, but
was later released.

The July 27 incident was a bloody attack against supporters of
the Megawati Soekarnoputri-led Indonesian Democratic Party by a
group of people attired in attributes of the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI) led by Soerjadi. Unofficial records said
that the attack left dozens of people dead, while others went
missing.

The Malari incident on Jan. 15, 1974 occurred when initially
peaceful protests turned violent in Jakarta. The demonstrators
voiced resentment over injustice in economic policies for the
sake of attracting foreign investment, and a corrupt and
authoritarian government. Eleven people died in the ensuing
clashes with security forces.

The Tanjung Priok incident in 1984 claimed the lives of at
least 24 local residents during a violent clash between civilians
and military personnel.

"We also demand two other things: Get rid of Golkar members in
the legislature and disband the Golkar Party," Mixil added.

Several groups and student organizations have been organizing
themselves ahead of next month's session.

Leaders of some of the groups vowed they would take part in
safeguarding the session, while some others stated they would hit
the streets of Jakarta to give vent to their dislike of the
government.

Most of them, however, have canceled their plans. (ylt)