More protests against Soeharto's renomination

More protests against Soeharto's renomination

JAKARTA (JP): The series of demonstrations at the House of
Representatives this week continued yesterday as 120 people from
different groups staged rallies to express concern about the
monetary crisis and show their support for government critics
Megawati Soekarnoputri and Amien Rais.

One group packed the House foyer, while another assembled
outside the building, reading out their demands for economic and
political reform and rejecting President Soeharto's nomination
for the 1998/2003 term.

About 50 people, calling themselves the Forum Tuntutan Hati
Nurani Rakyat (Forum for the People's Conscientious Demands) said
the monetary crisis indicated the government's failure to bring
democratization to the nation.

They said a new face was needed to carry out reform and
invigorate the country's political and economic situation.

They also appealed that the People's Consultative Assembly
nominate Megawati Soekarnoputri, the toppled leader of the
Indonesian Democratic Party, as the next president.

For four consecutive days, activists and students have packed
the House lobby either to protest or support the government's
efforts at economic reform and the renomination of President
Soeharto for another five-year term.

Of the groups, only one supported Soeharto's renomination.
They called themselves the Forum for Solidarity of Islamic
Nationalist Students.

Also yesterday, a group of about 70 people from 20
organizations of youth, artists, Moslem students and journalists
demonstrated and called on the Assembly to formally name Amien
Rais, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, and Megawati as presidential
candidates in its plenary session in March.

The spokesperson for Indonesian's Solidarity for Amien-Mega
(SIAGA) group, Ratna Sarumpaet, said the country needed a new
figure to create a clean government, one free from corruption and
collusion.

"We have a poor political system and the nation's economy has
caused people to starve to death. We need a leader with a healthy
conscience and vision, who can lead the country under people's
sovereignty," said Ratna, a playwright. (09)