Rally mars Habibie visit to Surabaya
SURABAYA (JP): At least 17 people were injured during clashes between riot police and thousands of demonstrating students, workers and supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri during a one-day visit by President B.J. Habibie here on Wednesday.
The rowdy protests forced the President's motorcade to make some detours while traveling to Gelora 10 November Stadium in Tambaksari and to the Grahadi governor's office, both the site of large rallies despite the deployment of hundreds of riot police.
A ceremony to mark the country's 15th National Sports Day at the stadium, which Habibie was to preside at, had to be postponed about 30 minutes from its scheduled 8 a.m. start time to give police time to sweep away protesters along Jl. Achmad Yani planning to block the motorcade's approach. The President was forced to wait at Juanda Airport in the meantime.
"Habibie, can you lower food prices or not?" the protesters jeered.
"I do realize that the current difficult situation often makes us lose our patience. And many of us are even incited to activities which actually worsen the situation," the President said in his address at the stadium.
Habibie was accompanied by his wife Hasri Ainun Besari, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung and State Minister of Sports and Youths Affairs Agung Laksono.
"In facing this heavy challenge, I call on all elements of society to keep patient and remain cool," Habibie said.
"Step down Habibie," was heard shouted outside the stadium.
The President had to cancel a planned visit to Sidoarjo, about 20 kilometers south of Surabaya, because protesters reportedly blocked the road leading there. He was slated to inspect a soccer stadium in the town.
A ceremony at the governor's office, where Habibie was briefed on the province's preparations to host National Sports Week in 2000, was also delayed an hour for security reasons.
Streets around the building, including Jl. Pemuda, Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Simpang Gubernur Suryo, were occupied by about 5,000 demonstrators. Shopping centers, including Tunjungan Plaza, banks and offices were closed.
The day's first clash erupted in front of Surabaya Plaza on Jl. Pemuda when demonstrators threw stones at passing military trucks.
The troops being shuttled fired warning shots and tear gas, resulting in five reported injuries, including two students.
Another clash occurred when protesters forced their way into the Grahadi complex after Habibie had entered the building. Twelve demonstrators were beaten by baton-wielding troops.
Habibie left the office at about 12:15 p.m., but his motorcade was forced to make a detour to avoid the main street. He flew back to Jakarta on a special flight.
The massive protests took place only one day after 1,000 students clashed with security forces early Tuesday in front of the House of Representatives. At least 10 people were injured during the incident.
Student protests have also spread to other big cities, bringing up images of the massive student movement which helped force former president Soeharto to resign on May 21.
In Semarang, Central Java, more than 1,000 students of state- run Diponegoro University marched to the governor's office to protest what they said was the government's failure to provide food security.
"If the government fails to punish rice smugglers and corruptors, we will hunt them down and hang them," some shouted.
In Yogyakarta, about 200 students held a peaceful demonstration at the Sunan Kalijaga Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) campus.
"People's aspirations are often being ignored by Habibie," said Yusron, the protest's leader.
In Jakarta, Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono expressed regret over the student demonstrations at the House of Representatives, saying the mass action had actually worsened the situation as prices of basic commodities continued to increase.
"I hail the student demands, but they shouldn't have expressed their concern in the form of mass action," he said at the opening of a national conference of the American Studies Association of Indonesia.
He said it would have been better if they had conveyed their demands through the legislative body.
Juwono also said his ministry had been trying to invite students to a dialog. "So far, there has been no response from students. Maybe they are allergic to a minister's office," he said.
He said he had held discussions with students of various universities and that many had agreed that their role was to watch the government's programs but that they should not protest in the streets. (nur/har/23/44/prb)