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)