Nation glued to MPR broadcasts

DENPASAR, Bali: Live broadcasts of the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) should top television ratings, at least for viewers in this land of paradise.

People from all walks of life here say they spend their nights watching the live broadcast of the Assembly sessions. The first four days of the event, which began on Oct. 1, saw the sessions go beyond midnight.

"Those are my favorite TV program now," student Komang Tantra said over the weekend.

Cell phone trader A Siong concurred.

"I love to watch several Assembly members interrupt President B.J. Habibie's speech. This never happened in the past," he said.

But many of the people deplored the way security troops have handled student demonstrations outside the Assembly compound. Eight people have been killed, and over 100 others injured in a series of rallies that have marred the General Session.

"The students just want to make sure their aspirations are channeled by their representatives," said housewife Chandrawati. (05)