Street singers show teeth

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Amidst persistent attacks at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session, President Abdurrahman Wahid keeps his flag flying in this town, hundreds kilometers away from Jakarta, where the session is taking place.

Hundreds of street singers took to the streets on Thursday morning to express their support for the government of President Abdurrahman and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. At the same time the proletarian artists condemned what they called "fake reformists" for abusing the purposes of the MPR session to unseat the President, or Gus Dur as he is widely known.

"They, who are representing the interests of international capitalism, put pressure on the government of Gus Dur and Megawati to create a society which encourages individualism, egoism and capitalism and broadens social iniquities," the singers said in their statement.

During the street rally, the street singers brought with them their music instruments such as guitars and traditional drums. A platoon of police officers watched over them, but no incidents occurred.

The singers also demanded the freedom to organize and form their own political grouping, which covers the poor across the country. (45)