GKPB event disrupted

SURABAYA: The launching of the Movement for Indonesian Justice and Unity's (GKPB) East Java chapter here yesterday had to be hastily held as hundreds of students demonstrated outside the meeting's venue, successfully disrupting the event.

Among those that attended the declaration ceremony were GKPB founders Gen. (ret.) Rudini, Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudrajat and former environment minister Sarwono Kusumatmadja.

Just outside the Joang '45 building, about 100 students calling themselves Arek-Arek Pro-Reformasi (proreform youths) held a boisterous demonstration. As many as 200 pro-Megawati Soekarnoputri supporters also joined in.

They demanded that GKPB's leaders back up their rhetoric with action.

The ceremony's organizers decided to cut the event short after the protest became disrupting.

Demonstrators even blocked Rudini's car for 15 minutes when he was about to leave.

"Pak Rudini, prove to us your moral movement. Don't just talk. We are already bored with your rhetoric. If you dare, let's hit the street together," yelled demonstrator M. Saleh.

Rudini seemed to take no notice of the shouts.

The demonstrators eventually disbursed peacefully after the meeting broke up. (nur)