Students call for Wiranto resignation nation-wide

JAKARTA (JP): Demonstrations continued nationwide on Monday to demand Armed Forces' accountability for the arbitrary shooting of protesters in Jakarta. Tens of thousands of students also demanded an end to the Armed Forces' (ABRI) dual role doctrine justifying military interference in virtually all spheres of life. Many called on Minister of Defense and Security/ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto to resign.

Some groups warned against efforts to provoke students into anarchy. In Ambon a clash with security officers led to seven students being hospitalized.

In Jakarta Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono had said Monday that some "radical" students had deliberately provoked others before the shooting.

From Ambon Antara reported that at least seven students of state-run Pattimura University (Unpatti) were admitted to Dr. Haulussy hospital here Monday night after a clash with security forces in front of the local military command.

Witnesses said students were beaten by security personnel with wooden sticks as they were passing the command on Jl. Diponegoro. The seven seriously wounded students were Muchlis Fataruba, Muhammad Taher, Said, Upi, Khalik Rumkel, Jerry Pattiwael and Stevanus Apituley. Ten others were arrested for questioning and scores of buildings were pelted with stones.

Hundreds of students had occupied the local RRI radio station and forced broadcasters to air their demands at 6:30 a.m.

A few hundred students in Jakarta with groups such as Alliance for People's Democracy (Aldera) and the Committee to Save People's Economy marched with residents to the house of former president Soeharto on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

The protesters demanded trial for Soeharto for abuses of power, on which was blamed all tragedies even after he stepped down in May. They were stopped at Surapati Park by Marines who said students' safety could not be guaranteed if they pressed on.

At the House of Representatives some 75 students from Jakarta's Islamic Studies Institute met with United Development Party faction leader Faisal Baasir at the gates. Faisal said their demands that Wiranto resign following the death of 15 including seven students on Thursday and Friday "would serve as reference to the faction."

Another few hundred students including those from the National Front protested at the Jakarta Legal Aid Office while Bogor's Pakuan University students were prevented from entering the city near the Jagorawi toll entry. A group of Gunadarma University students heading for the House of Representatives were stopped at the front of the Jakarta police headquarters on Jl. Sudirman.

In Bogor students aired their demands of investigation into the Semanggi tragedy through the state-owned RRI radio station.

At Trisakti University, West Jakarta, some 500 students said prayers for the victims. Trisakti is where four students were shot in May, also victims of troops firing on a peaceful rally. The killings remain unexplained.

Representatives of 15 campuses and student groups who gathered there demanded the end to ABRI's dual role and Wiranto's accountability for abuse of human rights. They also demanded speedy investigation of former president Soeharto and appealed for restraint in the face of "all anti-democracy provocation."

In Medan, student marches targeted the state-run TVRI television station in Medan, the North Sumatra branch of the ruling Golkar party, the Bukit Barisan military command and the state-run RRI radio station.

Medan students had earlier occupied the Polonia international airport which led to damage of facilities after they could not contain crowds who joined in.

Students of St. Thomas University declared the shooting of students in Jakarta and Bandung, along with the shooting of the Trisakti University students in May proof of ABRI's unaccountability. They demanded the end to ABRI's sociopolitical role and reiterated a call for Wiranto to resign.

Students of the North Sumatra University rallying in front of the RRI station, also rejected the Special Session results of Nov. 10 through Nov.13. At the Bukit Barisan military command, which oversees Sumatra, students presented a wreath to the deputy of operations there, Lt. Col. Chairuddin Aziz.

Dozens of students of the Front of Indonesian Moslem Students' Action told members of the provincial Golkar that Golkar, the Assembly's largest faction, had "betrayed" the people and also demanded Wiranto's accountability.

In Purwokerto, Central Java, some 7,000 students pledged a strike since Saturday in protest at the Semanggi massacre. They were from the Gen. Soedirman University (Unsoed), Wijaya Kusuma University and the Purwokerto Islamic Studies College.

"We will strike for a week and we demand Wiranto's accountability for the tragedy. President B.J. Habibie must also apologize," the Senate head of Unsoed, Kundiyarto said. On Saturday thousands of students had occupied the Banyumas military command. Wijaya Kusuma rector Iswanto supported the strike.

"Who else would fight for their colleagues if not students themselves?" he asked.

Some 10,000 students marched in Yogyakarta to demand the end of ABRI's dual role. Coordinated by the Students' Solidarity for People's Sovereignty, they packed the famed Jl. Malioboro for four hours. But business went on as usual.

"Do not let this case be closed," shouted Imam, a protester from the Indonesian Islam University. For 30 minutes students managed, after tough negotiations with the military commander, to enter the palace to raise a flag at half mast and hold a mourning ceremony.

In Padang, West Sumatra, thousands of students demanded that Wiranto resign and that Golkar immediately apologize for past sins and "dissolve." They marched for five kilometers towards the military command, but violence occurred as some students shattered the glass windows of the provincial Golkar office.

In Semarang, Central Java, effigies were burnt in anger at the Semanggi killings. Hundreds of students raising similar demands grouped in the Semarang Young Generation's Forum caused a two- hour congestion around the Simpang Lima center.

Antara reported that in Manado, North Sulawesi, some 500 students from various universities rallied in front of the local military command. Students called for the abolition of the decree adopted by the recent Assembly session justifying the representation of ABRI in the legislature. They also called for the accountability of former president Soeharto for his abuse of power.

In Bandung students also marched in the thousands in heavy rain to the governor's office in Gedung Sate and raised a flag at half-mast.

In Kupang, East Nusa Teggara around 1,000 students occupied the local council and set up a "shadow parliament."

Two students lowered the flag there to half-mast in honor of victims in Jakarta. They pledged to occupy the council through Tuesday to wait for the council speaker, and stated rejection of the Assembly session results. (team)