Four-day event celebrates student movement

JAKARTA (JP): The massive student movement which oversaw the fall of former president Soeharto is being eulogized in a four- day event which includes discussions and exhibitions.

Organized by Kompas daily, the event at Bentara Budaya on Jl. Palmerah Selatan, Central Jakarta, was opened on Tuesday by Asih Widodo, father of Sigit Widodo, one of the slain students shot by security personnel during an antigovernment protest near the Semanggi cloverleaf in November last year.

Organizers said that the events would include a photo and arts exhibition, panel discussions, poem readings, musical performances and a presentation of documentary films on the student movement.

Renowned musician Harry Roesli is scheduled to perform on Wednesday evening while noted writer Seno Gumira Ajidarma, human rights activist Karlina Leksono and talk show host Wimar Witoelar are scheduled to attend a series of discussions on the student movement on Thursday and Friday.

Organizers said leading student groups such as the Communication Forum of Jakarta Student Senates (FKSMJ), the City Forum (Forkot), the Students Action Front for Reform and Democracy (FAMRED) and the Indonesian Muslim Students Front (KAMMI) would be participants in the discussions.

Organizers said that at least 19 students were killed and hundreds more injured during student protests in the last two years. (byg)