Makassar students urge President to act on Ambon

Makassar students urge President to act on Ambon

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Some 100 protesting students
intercepted visiting President Abdurrahman Wahid's entourage on
Thursday to demand the government promptly resolve the violence
in Ambon.

The students from the Association of Makassar Muslim Students
halted the President's entourage, including Indonesian Military
Commander Adm. Widodo and Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi
Soedirdja, for about five minutes before being dispersed by
security officers. The incident took place on Jl. Perintis
Kemerdekaan in front of Hasanuddin University.

The President, who had just arrived at the airport, proceeded
on to the hall on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, some 10 kilometers from the
campus, where a dialog with community representatives was
scheduled.

As the President's entourage passed, the demonstrators, mostly
students from the university, attempted to follow the motorcade,
many asking passing motorists for rides.

Prevented by tight security from entering the hall, the
protesters held a free speech forum outside the building.

The situation became tense as a standoff developed between
demonstrators and civilian security guards organized by Nahdlatul
Ulama. However, cooler heads prevailed and violence was averted.

President Abdurrahman arrived on Thursday for a two-day visit.
He is scheduled to open the mass prayer Wirid '99 on Friday.

Adnan Nasution, one of the demonstrators, told The Jakarta
Post the action was in response to the government's sluggishness
in dealing with violence in Ambon.

"We just don't want the President to do nothing and let the
problem remain unresolved," Adnan said.

Promise

During the dialog with community representatives from Aceh,
Irian Jaya, Ternate and Sulawesi, Abdurrahman said was committed
to his promise of a referendum in Aceh.

"Just hold the referendum. The central government will act as
arranger," he told the Aceh representatives.

"But the Acehnese should not keep (the promise for a
referendum) as a way of life. Don't just think of revenge. Let's
work together to build a new life for the future, don't just look
back to the past," the President said.

While the dialog was taking place, hundreds of protesting
students from the Islamic Teaching Institute Alauddin Makassar
seized 12 non-Muslims of Chinese descent. The demonstrators urged
the government to settle the violence in Ambon.

The "hostages" were released after negotiations with security
personnel.

Inside the hall, the President told the audience he had
lobbied the governments of the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and
Brunei to provide aid for the people of Aceh. "The Arab Emirates
promised Rp 240 billion per year," he said, adding that the
government needed at least US$90 million to address poverty in
the province.

He stressed that in the future the government's policies would
focus on creating togetherness of spirit and allowing the
provinces to develop their own cultures.

"Literally, I see recent outbursts in some provinces as being
initiated by unfair treatment by the central government," he
said.

The President said building unity was imperative so in the
future no province would view itself as maltreated.

"If Aceh claims to have been hurt, we should be aware that
many other provinces have been hurt too," he said. He said that
for almost 15 years he himself was "stirred" by the Soeharto
regime.

Discussing the continuing bloody clashes in Ambon, the
President said economic motives were behind the violence.
"Certain groups want to monopolize natural resources there."

Togetherness grounded in respect for law, freedom of
expression and tolerance will be the future of Indonesia,
Abdurrahman said. (27/sur)