Gema Ikasakti foundation launched

Gema Ikasakti foundation launched

JAKARTA (JP): A group of Trisakti University alumni yesterday
launched a foundation to provide scholarships to university
students financially suffering from the economic crisis.

The foundation, Yayasan Gema Ikasakti, hopes to collect
donations from as many as 45,000 of the private university's
alumni.

"This idea came up after the economic crisis started (in July
of last year). But it (the inauguration) was temporarily delayed
by the May 12 incident," foundation chairman Bambang Parikesit
Moe'min told reporters.

The foundation is currently compiling data on students who are
experiencing difficulties financing their education because of
the country's economic turmoil.

"We'll give priority to Trisakti students, but in the long
run, we'll possibly be able to provide scholarships to students
from other universities as well," he said.

Four Trisakti students were shot dead on May 12 while
participating in an antigovernment rally in and around their
campus on Jl. Kyai Tapa, West Jakarta.

Bambang also urged the government yesterday to provide
opportunities for students to become members of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"Students have pure and clean thoughts. It's in line with the
reform spirit," he said. (jun)