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)