Student rallies at the Assembly rise

Student rallies at the Assembly rise

JAKARTA (JP): The number of student rallies has increased
since the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly
opened on Monday with at least 300 students staging rallies in
front of the Assembly complex here on Friday.

The differences in their demands were as varied as the
backgrounds of the demonstrators.

A group of students calling themselves the National Student
League for Democracy (LND) demanded the trial of former
authoritarian president Soeharto.

The students also urged that Indonesian Military
(TNI)/National Police not be given seats in either the House of
Representatives or the People's Consultative Assembly.

Their protest comes as Assembly members are leaning toward
supporting a draft article in the 1945 Constitution which could
permanently enshrine the TNI/National Police presence in the
Assembly.

Another group of students, the Islamic Student Front,
supported the planned amendments to Article 29 on religion which
would include an obligation to adhere to Islamic law (syariah)
for Muslims.

The planned change, which was proposed by the Islamic-based
United Development Party (PPP), has received strong opposition
from major factions such as the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Opposition toward the inclusion of Islamic law in the
Constitution has also grown outside the Assembly with the
nation's two largest Muslim organizations -- Nahdlatul Ulama and
Muhammadiyah -- also saying they do not support the change.

Just as there were student demonstrations supporting the
change in Article 29, another group, the Indonesian Nationalist
Student Movement (GMNI), turned up to demonstrate changes to it.

They also warned all parties to be wary of the return of New
Order figures, and called for those affiliated with the New Order
regime to be excluded from government institutions.

They also demanded that the trial of former president Soeharto
be speeded up.

One reason the demonstrations have increased compared to
previous five days is that Assembly members have now turned their
full attention to draft decrees and constitutional amendments.

Much of the agenda of the first three-days of the annual
session had been dominated by the presidential progress report.

Despite the plethora of groups and demands, no incidents were
reported on Friday. (jun)