Rector asks students to work not rally

JAKARTA (JP): University of Indonesia (UI) rector Asman Boedisantoso on Saturday called on students to replace their street protests with social work programs to help hungry people.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony for 4,871 postgraduate students at the university's Depok campus, Asman said that students could also help investigate allegations of corruption in the distribution of rice.

The rector said that if students wanted to remain a moral force in society they should tailor their actions to suit the needs of the community. That way, he said, they would remain true to the meaning of their movement.

There's always a great possibility of "illegal passengers" taking part in any student action. That leads to the danger of confrontation with the security forces, he said referring to Monday's student rally in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) in which two students were seriously injured.

"I therefore always remind my students to use their logic (brain) instead of their muscles because they are facing parties who use extraordinary strategies," Asman was quoted by Antara as saying.

The latest student protest in the capital took place on Thursday when around 1,000 demonstrators held a noisy rally near the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta.

Unlike Asman, former minister of education and culture Fuad Hasan, who is a member of the university's senate, said he could understand why the students were still staging massive street rallies.

"The government should make the issue of staple food procurement an emergency matter, not simply treat it as urgent. That would help to lessen people's worries," he said.

The capital and other big cities have become arenas for student street rallies, most of which are currently demanding an immediate reduction in the price of basic commodities. (emf)