PDI warned of state chaos, power abuses

PDI warned of state chaos, power abuses

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of pro-democracy activists staged a noisy
protest at the House of Representatives yesterday, denouncing
what they called the "rising incidence of state violence" and the
"widespread abuse of power".

Coming in two groups, they gathered inside the House foyer,
chanting slogans and singing patriotic songs with lyrics twisted
into a mockery of inconsistent government policy.

They mentioned several recent incidents, including allegations
of military brutality while handling a student demonstration,
collusion at the Supreme Court, the escape of tycoon Eddy Tansil
from prison and Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto's
abuse of power.

One group which consisted of activists from Pijar, a militant
student group seeking political reform, found legislators from
the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) to hear their concerns.

The Pijar activists demanded that Armed Forces Commander Gen.
Feisal Tanjung, Haryanto Dhanutirto, Minister of Justice Oetojo
Oesman and Justice Sujatmi Soedarmoko resign as an act of
accountability for the irregularities in their respective
offices.

"We demand that every citizen receive equal treatment before a
court of justice," Pijar chief Fery Haryono Machsus said.
"Independent teams must investigate the numerous cases of
corruption and abuses of power."

PDI legislators Aberson Marle Sihaloho, Jupri and Popo S.
Haroen said the minority party shares the concerns of the
activists.

"Collusion at the Supreme Court is especially deplorable. It
shows how weak law enforcement is in Indonesia," said Djupri from
the House Commission III for legal affairs.

Aberson said that the widespread use of violence to handle
civil cases has reached alarming levels. He cited the harsh
manner in which security forces dispersed students protesting a
hike in transport fares last month in Ujungpandang. Three
students were killed in the incident.

"It is sad to know that Armed Forces members shot unarmed
civilians, who pay taxes to buy the guns," he said.

Separately, another demonstration was held at the Ministry of
Agriculture by dozens of students protesting an alleged act of
corruption at a rubber goods factory project in Purwakarta, West
Java, and at palm oil refining and oleochemical plant on Batam
island.

The state suffered financial losses of billions of rupiah
because of the corruption involving the state-owned PT Perkebunan
Agrintara company, the students charged.

Meanwhile, an alliance of pro-democracy activists from 16 NGOs
demanded in a statement that state violence be stopped before the
people's initiative is destroyed.

"The public's participation in state development will be
killed and the dream of democracy will remain elusive," they
said.

The rising incidence of violence on a state level, they said,
is evident in the everyday cases of officials launching street
operations against citizens without identity cards, the torturing
of prisoners and the placement of military officers at railway
stations, bus terminals and other public places.

Violence is often used against student activists and pro-
democracy activists, they said. Government critics are
discredited with such stigmas as "leftist" or for "having past
links with the Indonesian Communist Party". (pan)