Students deny planning major protest rallies
Students deny planning major protest rallies
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta students grouped in the City Forum
(Forkot) and Salemba Forum (Forsal) have strongly denied rumors
that they plan to stage massive anti-government street rallies
over a three-day period starting on Wednesday.
Forkot spokesman Syahdatul Kahfi accused the government of
starting the rumors to create antipathy toward the students and
discredit their struggle to win democracy for Indonesia.
"The current government uses the old ways to divide and sow
fear and tension among the people through the use of rumors," he
said.
"People should not react to these rumors. We'll use a better
means to voice our aspirations on those days. We have not planned
any actions for Wednesday," said Forsal's Ari Wibowo.
It has been widely rumored that a number of anti-government
groups are planning to stage massive rallies to coincide with the
date the House of Representatives (DPR) is due to pass three
political bills paving the way for a general election in June.
City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman told reporters
after a meeting of high ranking city officials that all parties
should work together to maintain security. He said the
cooperation and relative harmony of the Ramadhan fasting month
should serve as an example to all in the difficult times ahead.
"We hope that street rallies won't disturb the peace and that
people can go about their daily routines as usual," he said.
Noegroho said that only one group had so far formally notified
the city police of their intention to stage a street rally on
Wednesday. He did not reveal the group's identity.
He also refused to say if the police plan to take stern action
against demonstrators who do not notify police of their plans in
advance.
Noegroho refused to disclose details of the security force
which will be deployed in the capital to police large
demonstrations.
In Surabaya, Antara reported that students dismissed rumors of
massive rallies planned for Wednesday.
"It's impossible...we should be realistic. Our friends are
consolidating themselves and most of them are still in a festive
mood after Idul Fitri. If there are any rallies, it will not be
us," Muhadji, the coordinator of the Pro-Reform Surabaya People,
said.
In Bandung, police have been placed on alert in case students
stage large demonstrations.
"We have heard the rumors, but not a single group has told us
they intend to stage a demonstration," said West Java Police
chief Lt. Col. Istanto Judihardjo.
General election
On Tuesday, members of both Forkot and Forsal underlined the
importance of a fair and free general election.
Forkot spokesman Fauzan Alqosh said that members of the
government, People's Consultative Assembly and DPR were appointed
under defective laws and therefore lacked the credibility to
endorse the political bills currently being deliberated.
He said a transitional government should replace the
government of President B.J. Habibie and prepare for a free and
fair election.
"We have no problem with the political bills. We accept that
the general election is part of the democratic process. All that
bothers us is the existing legislative body, which we consider to
be legally defective," Fauzan said.
"We are against the election if it is not free, fair and
democratic. In other words, we object to an election not held
under a new transitional government," said the student of East
Jakarta's Assyafi'iyah Islamic University.
Forsal's coordinator Agus Haryadi said that students would
concentrate on ensuring the general election was free and fair
rather than get bogged down in controversial discussions of the
political bills. (ivy/ind/ylt)