Gen. Wiranto warns certain groups plan greater unrest
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Affairs/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto warned yesterday that a certain group was planning to incite greater unrest to coincide with the historic National Awakening Day tomorrow.
"The fires in government buildings, shops and people's houses are not even cold yet... but there are already certain people who are trying again to assemble a mass crowd for May 20, 1998, which risks a repetition of the sad scenes we have just witnessed," Wiranto told journalists yesterday evening.
"They seem to forget and even don't seem to care about the loss of life and material goods... They are being pushed on by the wave of unrestrained freedom and even threaten the safety of general public facilities.
"Therefore, ABRI as a stabilizing force in society, asks that all people continue to abide by the prevailing law because any other course of action will only exacerbate the situation. ABRI warns the certain parties to stop anarchic actions if they do not want to face military force," he said.
Wiranto did not identify which group he meant, however it is widely anticipated that a major demonstration will be held.
Wiranto made his statement at the Armed Forces headquarters after earlier meeting with President Soeharto at his residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.
But even as Wiranto made his statement, students throughout the country were already making calls for the public to join them for a mass demonstration on May 20, National Awakening Day.
In Medan, North Sumatra, hundreds of students at Sumatra Utara University took turns to stick pamphlets on the windshields of vehicles passing in front of their campus on Jl. Jamin Ginting.
The pamphlets urged people to simultaneously voice their concern on Wednesday, and express concern at the dire state of the nation.
The small flier ended with the words "Merdeka" (Freedom) and demands for a presidential succession.
In major cities across the country students stepped up their rallies which are no longer merely demanding comprehensive reform but are also calling on President Soeharto to step down.
Lecturers
In Yogyakarta, it was not just students demonstrating yesterday, but 1,000 lecturers and staff from Gadjah Mada University who held an on campus rally.
In a statement they urged for a change in the national leadership as a prerequisite of reform.
"Reform will never succeed without a change in leadership because the national leadership under President Soeharto is one of the main causes of the crisis," the statement read.
The statement also warned people not to become distracted by jingoistic reform slogans which could be a placebo to assuage demands.
A valorous show was also put on by the university's rector, Ichlasul Amal, who joined the protest and spoke to the crowd, urging them to continue pursuing comprehensive change.
He said piecemeal schemes such as cabinet reshuffle would do little to relieve the crisis dogging the country.
"If are demands succeed, let us create a civil society free of fear and hunger. If we fail to do that then the same fate will befall us again," he remarked while shouting "I promise to support you and to be with you!"
Meanwhile in another part of the city, thousands of students from the Indonesian Islamic University held a demonstration which eventually culminated at the crossroads of Jl. Taman Siswa and Jl. Kol. Sugiono. Traffic was jammed for over four hours due to the protest.
In Purwokerto, Central Java, thousands of students at two universities joined in the rallies demanding reform.
Students at Soedirman University marched off their campus and were able to proceed for one-kilometer before being blocked by a strong security contingent.
No clashes occurred as the students dispersed and returned to their campus to hold a free speech forum.
At the nearby Academy for Computer Information Management, students could not walk out of their campus because security forces were quick to block the two exits out of the campus. Undeterred, the students continued their noisy protest inside the campus grounds, urging President Soeharto to step as a necessary requirement for reform.
In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, the rector of Hasanuddin University, Radi A. Gani, joined a massive street protest involving a crowd of 25,000 comprised mainly of students.
The peaceful march was joined by hundreds of motorcycles and cars as they traveled down the streets of the city.
Upon arriving at Mandala building, speakers took turns to urge for reforms.
Radi himself called on students not to be afraid of voicing the people's aspirations.
"We fully support the student's struggle," he shouted.
Meanwhile in Bandung, West Java, about 2,000 students from Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) broke spontaneously into cheers when they heard that House speaker Harmoko had urged President Soeharto to step down.
The students were holding a rally in front of their campus on Jl. Ganesha at the time.
The rally was attended by lecturers and noted figures, including musicians such as Harry Roesli, Doel Sumbang and Sam Bimbo. (21/23/30/43/44/45/swa/rms)