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)