Student demonstrations continue

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of university students in the city continued to demonstrate yesterday by holding free-speech forums on their campuses.

At the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta, students gathered to hear speeches by, among others, MK Tadjudin, a former UI rector; Mahar Mardjono, also a former UI rector; Hari Darmawan, head of the university alumni association; and Hariman Siregar, a former head of the UI student council.

Tadjudin said that all the university's lecturers supported the demonstrations, which they consider to be a moral movement, within constitutional limits, and an expression of very genuine concern.

"The student movement reflects the conscience of the people," Mahar was quoted by Antara as having said.

At the forum, students hung a banner above the balcony of the university medical school which demanded a reduction of prices, the provision of more job opportunities, an end to extortion and repression, and a special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Another banner proclaimed: Students, People, the Armed Forces, Be United!

The free-speech forum was disturbed by the arrival of scores of students from other universities, including the Indonesian Accountancy Foundation and Gunadarma.

Shortly after that, senior high school students drew up in a bus and became involved in clashes with security officers. The forum was ended at noon.

Students were later prevented from leaving the campus and mingling with a large mob which had started a disturbance in nearby areas.

Meanwhile, Gen. (ret.) Abdul Haris Nasution, Indonesia's most senior living general, visited the parents of Elang Mulya, one of the four Trisakti University students killed during a demonstration on Tuesday.

In his brief visit, Nasution said students should pursue political reform despite challenges.

At the House of Representatives, 103 lecturers from the University of Indonesia filed a petition with the ruling Golkar party faction Wednesday, expressing their concern over the deteriorating economic and political crisis.

On a related development, thousands of Tarakanita Secretary Academy students in Cawang, East Jakarta, were involved in a clash with security forces who prevented them from joining a massive free-speech forum on the neighboring Indonesian Christian University (UKI) campus.

But the dispute was quickly resolved when students moved back onto their campus.

During a peaceful rally in front of Atmajaya Catholic University on Jl. Jend. Sudirman in South Jakarta yesterday, students and local people were seen embracing and shaking hands with security personnel.

About 90 anti-riot officers from the Army Special Forces (Kopassus) mingled with the crowd, which consisted largely of youngsters, and chatted with them.

One of the officers took a megaphone and asked the crowd to disperse peacefully.

"ABRI (the Armed Forces) will go hand in hand with the people. We realize that we come from the same stock," the officer said.

"We ask you all to disperse conscientiously and calmly and return to your own residences," he said.

"Long Live ABRI!" the crowd responded in unison. The protesters and the officers sang patriotic songs together, but demonstrators did not immediately leave the site.

Students later emerged from their campus to take photographs with the officers. Some even asked the soldiers about their weapons and equipment.

A student and an officer clasped hands to show solidarity.

"We all suffer, sir," the student said, and the officer nodded in response.

Military officials said the relaxed attitude was part of the Armed Forces' strategy for maintaining public trust and sympathies.

"I'm very pleased. The people did not respond brutally toward us. They still love us," said Sgt. Kurnia.

"I don't believe that all students are destructive," Second Sgt. Tono said.

"A stone thrown from the crowd when we arrived here nearly hit me in the face, but I told myself,'It's OK, I will meet my brothers and sisters here anyway,'" First Private Octavianus said.

When the crowd grew in size, police officers from a nearby station were deployed in the area.

The police, who lined up 100 meters from Semanggi flyover, fired warning shots when the crowd moved forward. No serious injuries were reported.

The crowd responded by throwing stones, but their attempts to move forward were blocked by the military. (team)