Rally mars Habibie visit to Surabaya

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)