Students continue demands for independence
Students continue demands for independence
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): University students here
pledged on Sunday to continue their street rallies to demand an
independent state.
A student leader said a huge demonstration was organized for
Monday to announce the establishment of the Independent Sulawesi
Preparation Committee.
"Some student coordinators are currently meeting to discuss
the plan," the coordinator of Independent Makassar Students,
Iswari Al Farisy, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Apart from the committee, the students plan to set up a youth
group to carry out security jobs.
Iswari said both the committee and the youth group would
mainly involve local students and youths. "The concepts of both
organizations are now being discussed," he added.
"Our main goal is to establish an independent Sulawesi state,
but if any of the eastern Indonesian provinces want follow in our
footsteps, we will welcome them as brothers", Iswari said.
The student rally continued on Sunday around Makassar State
University and Indonesian Muslim University campuses, although
only a few demonstrators turned up. They did not blockade roads
nor burn tires as on the previous two days.
"We intentionally avoided a big rally today to allow our
fellow students to rest while the others discuss actions for
Monday," Iswari said.
He claimed that the local students' demand had received a
positive response from students in other provinces.
"Our movement will not cease until our demand is fulfilled",
he vowed.
The student rallies result from disappointment over the
People's Consultative Assembly, which they accused of failing to
accommodate aspirations from people in eastern Indonesia,
particularly Sulawesi.
"Our movement was sparked by injustice, which we are now
experiencing," he added.
In one of their statements, they protested the Assembly's vote
against accepting the accountability speech delivered by former
president B.J. Habibie, who is a South Sulawesi native. The
rejection led to Habibie's withdrawal from the presidential
election.
Iswari called on politicians from eastern Indonesia to refuse
any offers to be in the Cabinet under President Abdurrahman
Wahid. They should return to their home soil to support the
establishment of an independent Sulawesi state, Iswari added.
Calls have mounted for the students to refrain from violence.
While playing down the students' demand, South Sulawesi
Governor HZB Palaguna has warned rectors and students against
causing anarchy.
Andi Muis, senior law and mass communications lecturer at
Hasannudin University, also suggested that the students
reconsider their movement.
"I don't agree to the movement if it is due to disappointment
over Habibie's failure to win his reelection bid. But if the
movement is the fruit of unfair treatment of eastern Indonesia by
the central government, I can understand why the movement rolls
on," he said.
He said Jakarta often disregarded the needs of eastern
Indonesia, especially Sulawesi, in politics, culture and the
economy. He also complained about the lack of media coverage on
Sulawesi.
Muis suggested the central government be wise in solving the
case. (27/02)