Students demand food security, reform

DEPOK, West Java (JP): Around 2,000 University of Indonesia students marched around their campus here yesterday demanding food security, employment and political reform.

The students also delivered a scathing attack on the New Order government which they claimed had failed to keep the people's mandate. "The government should, in full awareness and peacefully, resign," the students said in a statement signed by seven leaders.

After demanding the government resign, however, the students demanded it should provide people with basic commodities at affordable prices, and immediately address the soaring unemployment.

"We demand political reform as a prerequisite for total reform by... revoking all laws that shackle people's freedom to assemble... and to express opinions verbally or in writing," the students said.

The students also demanded a succession of the national leadership, and the government to stand accountable for the social, economic and political crisis.

"The country's bankrupt because of the various mistakes committed by the government. Corruption is rampant, as is nepotism, while capital is concentrated only in a small group, (aggravated by) legal uncertainty and repression of people's political rights," the students said.

They also called on fellow students across the country to press for the same reform.

The students held a free speech forum where they expressed opinions through songs, poetry and speeches.

Elfan Suri, from the School of Social and Political Sciences, told The Jakarta Post the forum was organized by student senates from four schools: social and political sciences, economics, letters and engineering.

Elfan said many of the University of Indonesia students had been waiting for just such a forum on the campus to express their concern over the current economic and political situation.

He said yesterday's forum was just the beginning and would pave the way for an even bigger gathering either inside or outside the campus.

"(The forum) was meant to gauge the spirit of our friends, while we're preparing for further action," he said, adding that student activists had launched efforts to unite and plan further events.

Student sources said the demonstration might well be followed by similar events at universities in many other towns. (emf/swe)