Students condemn Bintang's dismissal

Students condemn Bintang's dismissal

SEMARANG, Central Java: Hundreds of students held a noisy
demonstration here yesterday, protesting the dismissal of Sri
Bintang Pamungkas, an outspoken legislator of the United
Development Party.

The students, from the Communication Forum for Development and
the Anti-dismissal Commission, marched to the provincial office
of the party.

They unfurled banners calling for the resignation of party
chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum and for party leaders to convene
a special meeting to discuss the dismissal.

"Cancel the decision to dismiss Bintang for the sake of
democracy and political life," a spokesman for the protesters,
Imam Subawi, said.

The students said they would not vote for the party unless it
retracted the decision. (har/swe)