Student groups concerned about riot victims

JAKARTA (JP): Four influential student organizations expressed concern yesterday for the many people who became victims in Saturday's violent rioting and called for the cessation of "violent politics" in the country.

"We express our deep sadness to the relatives and families of those who became victims in the violence," said leading members of the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement, the Indonesian Christian Students Movement, the Union of Indonesian Catholic Students and the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement in a statement.

"The bloody tragedy has proven the arrogance of the powerful, (manifested in) a violent action against the people, who should actually be the holders of sovereignty in this country," the group said.

"The use of power and violence will never solve problems, but will instead run against the principles of people's sovereignty, human rights, democracy, the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution," the statement further said.

The students also said the "tragedy has strengthened the people's view that violent politics is a given practice in the community ... and lack of intent to obey to ethics, morality and political integrity".

The clash between supporters of ousted Indonesian Democratic Party chief Megawati Soekarnoputri with troops, as well as the rioting that followed, erupted after the forced takeover of the party headquarters by supporters of Megawati's foe, Soerjadi, and the police.

Yesterday, a number of other groups also came forward to make their stance on the issue known. An association of five Moslem youth organizations jumped onto the bandwagon of other organizations who have already condemned the rioting and supported the way the government and the Armed Forces handled it.

Calling themselves the Young Generation of Indonesian Moslems, the youths began their statement by calling the rioting "anarchist" and even "subversive", a crime punishable by death in Indonesia.

"The mass rioting is anarchist and subversive because its intent is to undermine the government's credibility," the youths said in the statement. "The campaign began with the free speech forum, which incited people to hate the legitimate government."

The students were referring to the daily gathering of Megawati's supporters at the headquarters before the takeover, which the Armed Forces called an "embryo of insurgence".

"We demand that both Megawati and Soerjadi be held responsible, because (the rioting) stemmed from the political conflict between the two," the students said.

Several reporters attending the press briefing suggested that the students had been too hasty in issuing the statement condemning the rioters, one which was based on scanty knowledge of what really took place during the incident, which led to the deaths of three people and left dozens injured.

Taufiq Hidayat, one of the activists, denied the suggestion. "Oh, we've been well-informed all right ... we knew people who had been involved in the free speech forum," he insisted. "It's just unethical for us to name the people now."

Taufiq called Megawati and Soerjadi "phony leaders" who abandoned their responsibilities when trouble occurred.

The Communion of Churches in Indonesia also expressed concern over the latest developments, saying that "the politics of violence" indicated stagnation in a system which should always "adjust and change."

Signed by its chairman, Sularso Sopater, the organization called on the government and the people to take steps to correct the situation and make substantial reforms.

In the East Java capital, Surabaya, more than 100 influential ulemas gathered and read a statement condemning the People's Democratic Party, which the military has accused of masterminding the riots.

"The ulemas, as components of the New Order ... condemn the Party ... the new-style PKI," the ulemas said, referring to the now-outlawed Indonesian Communist Party, in front of chief of East Java military command Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo.

Separately, AFP reported that Jakarta's claims that Australian unionists were involved in stirring the political upheaval drew an angry response from the Western Australian Trades and Labor Council.

"Apparently the Indonesian government is seeking to create a smokescreen to deflect attention from its own internal struggle," said Stephanie Mayman, assistant secretary of the council.

She also blasted the Australian government, saying the council "is extremely disappointed at the lack of response by the Australian government to what occurred in Indonesia at the weekend".

Mayman acknowledged Australian union links with Indonesian labor activists, but denied any suggestions that Australian unionists were involved in the Jakarta demonstrations. (15/imn/swe)