Groups rally at the House over succession, reform

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)