Makassar students lambaste Amien for failing to show up
Makassar students lambaste Amien for failing to show up
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Student leaders criticized on
Tuesday People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais
for failing to attend a seminar he was scheduled to address.
Many students said they had turned up at the seminar to
personally convey to Amien their call for an independent South
Sulawesi state.
Organized by the Islamic Youth Ukhuwa Forum, the seminar on
national unity discussed various options for the province, from
greater autonomy to complete independence. Student leaders and
politicians attended the seminar.
"We were still in contact with Pak Amien until last night
(Monday), and he even reaffirmed his plan to come to Makassar,"
event coordinator Agus Dwikaran told The Jakarta Post at
Hasanuddin Airport.
"We don't expect this from Amien Rais. He must explain this
matter," student leader Iswary Al Farizi said.
Following the announcement of Amien's canceled visit, hundreds
of Indonesian Muslim University students poured onto the streets
and aired their demands for a free Sulawesi state.
Event organizers did not provide any reason for the abrupt
cancellation.
But Amien reportedly faxed a letter to the forum from
Yogyakarta tendering his apologies, with a promise to visit
Makassar next week.
South Sulawesi has been rocked by student protests over the
past month, with demands ranging from greater autonomy to
complete separation and the establishment of an East Indonesia
state.
The protests began after B.J. Habibie lost his bid for the
presidency last month during the General Session of the MPR.
Habibie, the country's president from May 1998 until last
month, is a local hero in his home province.
Outgoing Wirabuana Military chief Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy
dismissed speculation that Amien bowed to political pressure and
canceled the trip to Makassar.
"Pak Amien is not a little kid. He must have a good reason not
to show up... And it is not because of security reasons either.
Makassar is safe and under control," Suaidi said. (27/edt)