Students continue pressure of reform
Students continue pressure of reform
JAKARTA (JP): Students kept up pressure for political reform
and lower prices of basic commodities yesterday, holding
demonstrations criticizing the government for the economic
crisis.
Protests were held yesterday at state and private universities
in Surakarta and Sukoharjo in Central Java, Bandung and Bogor in
West Java and here in Jakarta.
In Surakarta, around 2,000 students from the state-run Sebelas
Maret University chanted slogans blaming the government for the
ongoing crisis.
The students wanted to deliver a petition to the local
legislature, but were prevented from leaving the campus by
security forces.
Minor scuffles broke out between the students and security
officers before the students dispersed. No violence was reported.
In Sukoharjo, hundreds of students from the private Bantara
University unfurled banners demanding political and economic
reforms.
They also demanded that the new cabinet and the House of
Representatives work to abolish corruption, collusion and
monopolistic practices.
In addition to echoing the sentiments of their Central Java
colleagues, hundreds of students from the state-run Padjadjaran
University in Bandung and Ibn Khaldun University in Bogor also
criticized the new cabinet line-up.
They believe the new cabinet reflects a reluctance on the part
of the government to launch reforms.
Students of Parahyangan University and the State Institute of
Islamic Studies of Sunan Gunung Djati in Bandung also staged
separate demonstrations yesterday.
In Jakarta, hundreds of students from the Pancasila University
in South Jakarta spilled onto the street as they demonstrated
against the government.
About 100 armed security personnel lined up in rows in front
of the university as students chanted slogans and called on
President Soeharto to step down.
The students briefly blocked two lanes of a highway, but
dispersed without incident.
At one stage the university's rector, Subroto, a former
minister of mines and energy, stepped into the fray with an
appeal to students to have patience with the government's efforts
to solve the economic crisis.
Separately, some 500 students of the private Mercu Buana
University demonstrated over tuition fees which they felt were
burdening them financially. The same university students had
earlier staged a demonstration against price hikes last month.
Separately, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said that the
military's recent offer to hold discussions with student groups
was genuine.
"The invitation to talk with the students is not mere lip
service but a genuine invitation," Wiranto said before attending
the first meeting of the new cabinet in the Bina Graha
presidential office yesterday.
Wiranto said last week students should choose dialogue, not
rallies, to air their opinions and aspirations, adding that all
levels of the military were prepared to meet with student groups.
Security officials have warned they will not tolerate street
rallies, but will allow demonstrations to proceed if held within
the confines of university campus sites.
Several scuffles have broken out between students attempting
to take their protests off campus and security forces which have
blocked their way. No serious injuries have been reported.
Meanwhile, Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto
Arismunandar said that he did not consider protest rallies at
universities, which have involved both students and lecturers, to
be improper.
"They are proper and a natural way of expressing their
opinions, although they should improve the methods used to
conveying their message," he said before yesterday's cabinet
meeting.
He said students could instead present proposed solutions to
the economic crisis. (24/43/har/byg)