Students demand lower food prices, political reforms

Students demand lower food prices, political reforms

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of students from five major
universities in Sulawesi and Java staged on-campus rallies
yesterday, demanding the government lower prices and introduce
political reforms.

Rallies at the University of Indonesia (UI) in Jakarta,
University of Airlangga in the East Java capital of Surabaya, and
Teachers Training Institute (IKIP) in the South Sulawesi capital
of Ujungpandang, all ended peacefully.

But students of the University of Padjajaran and Institute for
Islamic Studies (IAIN) Sunan Gunung Jati in the West Java capital
of Bandung were involved in a clash with security authorities
when they tried to take the rally to the streets by forcing their
way through a police and military personnel blockade.

Three students -- identified as Emmanuel from Padjajaran, and
Ahmad and Rully from IAIN -- were injured in the clash in front
of the University of Padjajaran campus on Jl. Dipati Ukur
yesterday morning.

The dispute was sparked by security officers who started to
push and beat the students, numbering more than 100, when they
attempted to move off the campus.

In response, the students attack the officers with stones. No
officers were reportedly injured.

In Jakarta, hundreds of students from the University of
Indonesia marched for the third time in two weeks to the School
of Medicine compound on Jl. Salemba Raya in Central Jakarta
yesterday morning.

Despite the rain, students declared their strong opposition to
what they called the current economic and leadership crisis, and
demanded dialog with the government.

Attired in their popular yellow jackets, the students of
medicine, dentistry and nursing ended the 90-minute rally
peacefully under the watchful eyes of dozens of police and
military personnel, who observed the goings-on from outside the
campus.

Seconds after the rally ended, a heavily packed antiriot
police truck arrived at the campus to a chorus of boos from the
students and media.

The rally started about 9:30 a.m. when students began flocking
to the campus compound and singing heroic songs before their
representatives stepped onto an open stage to announce their
demands.

The students shouted: "Salemba Bergerak (Salemba on the
Move)", "Reformasi (Reformation)" and "Hidup Rakyat (Long Live
the People)" during the forum.

Chairmen of the three senates, Andoko Budiwisesa, Imam
Rulyawan and Agus Setiawan, read statements which they called the
Salemba Declaration.

In the statements, the students asked the government to form a
cabinet with members who have good moral reputations.

The students also expressed their disapproval of "political
adventurers", people who only want to take advantage of the
current economic crisis.

Rama Pratama, chairman of the University of Indonesia
students' senate, guaranteed that his fellow students would not
take to the streets or engage in violence.

But he called for dialog with members of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) during the General Session.

"We're trying not to be radical like marching on the streets
as they (the government) wish but please fulfill our request for
dialog with the MPR members during this week's session," he said
after the rally.

Rama said he could not say what might happen if their requests
were not met.

"Students can't offer guarantees anymore. Let the time bomb
explode, if necessary," he said, declining to provide further
details.

City police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said officers were
deployed to the scene following a request for protection by one
of the university's deputy rectors.

"He asked for backup to screen those who wanted to enter the
campus. They didn't want any irresponsible, uninvited parties to
get involved in the activity," Hamami said.

The university rector, Asman Boedisantoso Ranakusuma, said
that expressing their concerns about the nation by staging a
rally and delivering speeches was not wrong.

"They are not demonstrating, they are only showing their
concern by delivering speeches," Asman said.

In Ujungpandang, security officers allowed about 500 IKIP
students to stage a street demonstration.

They marched from their Parangtambung campus to Gunungsari
Baru campus, which is about five kilometers away.

During the march, they were supervised by police and military
officers under the command of Ujungpandang Police chief, Col.
Jusuf Manggabarani.

No violence was reported but the rally caused traffic
congestion in several areas.

Besides asking the government to promptly bring down prices,
the students also wanted officials, including their lecturers, to
hand over half of their salary to needy people, who have been
hardest hit by the crisis.

They also reminded the IKIP rector not to increase tuition
fees.

In Surabaya, more than 200 students held an on-campus
demonstration waving placards and banners inscribed with harsh
words about President Soeharto, the General Session and MPR
members.

Asmara Nababan, a member of the National Commission on Human
Rights, was seen giving his support and talking with students
until the rally dispersed.

Nababan said after the rally that he had attended on his own
initiative.

"I don't need to discuss (my presence here) with my colleagues
(at the commission). Here, I can collect more information."

The demonstration ended peacefully after the students failed
to pass through a security blockade of police and military
personnel.

Only last week, the Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman
Djojonegoro allowed students to rally as long as it was held
inside the campuses.

Wardiman boasted that he was proud of University of Indonesia
students, who have been able to voice their aspirations
peacefully. (team)