Groups rally at the House over succession, reform

JAKARTA (JP): Some 200 people from four different groups rallied at the House of Representatives making demands ranging from presidential succession to all-out reforms to cope with the economic crisis.

The joint rally, which packed the lobby of the House, appeared to be coincidental, as the different groups avoided mingling with each other. Dozens of police kept an eye on them.

Each group yelled and sang patriotic songs while parading banners and placards inscribed with their demands.

The crowded lobby forced an alliance of five religious-based student organizations, called the Cipayung Group, to stage their protest, about global intervention in Indonesia's efforts to heal its economy, outside the building.

"We question the legitimacy of the economic reforms dictated by the United States-backed International Monetary Fund. The people must regain their sovereignty," Adelle, an activist of the Christian Student Association of Indonesia, said.

Instead of the making the IMF-sanctioned reforms, the group asked the government to battle against the overwhelming corruption and collusion which they blame for shattering the country's economic foundation.

President Soeharto signed last week a 50-point letter of intent linked to an IMF-led foreign aid package worth US$43 billion to help Indonesia ease the economic turmoil.

The student group also criticized what they described as the "half-hearted nature" of the nationwide drive to exchange U.S. dollars for rupiah sponsored by cabinet ministers and noted businesspeople.

"The amount of dollars they are selling is too insignificant compared to their wealth," Rahmawan, of the Association of Islamic Students, said.

Another student, Saiful Bahri, said that unlike other critics who demanded incumbent President Soeharto step down, this group wanted the government to apply transparent management, and control the price of basic commodities.

Inside the building, supporters of deposed Indonesian Democratic Party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, students and labor activists blamed the government for the prolonged crisis.

"The illogical depreciation of rupiah indicates the vanishing confidence in the government," said Ida Mahmuda, who led the Megawati supporters.

The group called the economic crisis a national tragedy which will soon see massive unemployment, price hikes and increasing crime.

Another student group calling themselves the Forum for Studies of Dynamic Ummat said they doubted the country would survive the crisis.

They demanded that People's Consultative Assembly establish a decree which would bar a person from being president for more than two terms.

Separately in Bandung, a union of student senates from various local universities, and their counterparts in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, suggested the government start sweeping political reform in addition to the IMF-approved economic reform.

"A partial resolution will only cause new problems in law enforcement, and hamper efforts to encourage self-reliant political organizations and combat nepotism and greedy conglomerates," one of the activists, Asep Wahyuwijaya, said.

Hundreds of members of a student group calling themselves the Student and Youth Movement in Support of Reform plan a rally at the House on Jan. 22. (43/imn/amd)