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)