'Student protesters have other motives'

'Student protesters have other motives'

JAMBI: A lecturer said here on Friday that some student groups
have hidden agendas for staging protests in the province ahead of
the direct elections of regional administrations.

"Some student groups protested against the running of one
candidate for regent, while other groups protested against
others. This is not healthy for our democracy. The students have
abused their right to protest for their own short-term
interests," said Sudirman, a noted politics observer from Jambi
University.

Furthermore, Sudirman alleged that some groups of students had
been used by politicians to promote their interests.

Spokesman of the Jambi National Student Front Ade Jasman
concurred, saying that the trend had damaged the students' image.
"The students are no longer perceived as being the agents of
change. They have been used by politicians to acquire power,"
said Ade. -- JP