Students fight for greater freedom in their own way

Students fight for greater freedom in their own way

JAKARTA (JP): The winds of change that swept strongman
Soeharto off his throne has brought about hope for democracy.
This is apparent in the burgeoning student groups that fight for
greater freedom in their own way and with idealism.

Some groups, such as Forkot, are well-known for their huge
membership and militancy. Some are so obscure that the public
only learns of their existence by reading the placards they carry
when they take to the streets.

The following is a list of major student groups actively
involved in street rallies in major cities, especially Jakarta.

Forum Kota (City Forum). Well-known by its no modest acronym
Forkot, the group was established in March 1998 and claims to
have 30,000 students from about 36 campuses across Greater
Jakarta. It has bases in several universities, such as Atma Jaya
Catholic University in Central Jakarta and Christian University
of Indonesia in East Jakarta.

The group aims to fight for democracy, justice and respect for
human rights in the country "without compromise", something that
has earned it a reputation of being militant.

It offers training on advocacy, and members on each campus
recruit new participants and instill consolidation.

Forkot has no leader or formal organizational structure. But
before staging a demonstration, members assign activists to be in
charge of field coordination, public relations, security, medical
affairs, recording the chronology of the event and lobbying. They
also have a spokesperson.

Its demands are, among others, an end to ABRI's political
role, President Habibie's resignation, prosecution of former
president Soeharto and his cronies and the formation of a
People's Council to govern until a democratic election is held.

Students Action Front for Reform and Democracy (Famred) is a
splinter group of Forkot. It claims to have thousands of members
from 25 universities.

Famred is less radical than Forkot. Its activists believe
street rallies are an effective way to press for democracy when
political institutions are unable to perform their duties.

The group is pressing for the formation of a People's Council
as a transitional government to replace Habibie and to prepare
for a democratic general election. It is also demanding that
President Habibie and ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto be held
responsible for the Semanggi tragedy.

It uses the YAI school of accountancy campus in Central
Jakarta as a base.

Front Jakarta (the Jakarta Front) also a Forkot splinter
group. Aside from demanding an overhaul of the political system,
the group is also calling for people to stand up and fight for
their basic rights which it says have long been suppressed.

The group ridiculed the recent People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) Special Session as "meetings of palace bureaucrats" which
failed to accommodate people's wishes.

In an interview with Detak tabloid, one of its activists,
Edysa, said the group did not recognize Habibie as the president
and demanded that Wiranto account for the Semanggi tragedy.

Solidaritas Anak Bangsa (Nation Children Solidarity). The
group adamantly rejected the recent MPR session on the grounds
that legislators turned a deaf ear to people's aspirations.

They take to the streets to dramatize their demands for an end
to ABRI's political role, the formation of a transitional
government until fair elections are held and an end to ABRI's
representation in the legislature.

Moslem Forum for the Justice and the Constitution (Furkon).
Established in early October at Istiqlal Grand Mosque, it claims
to represent Indonesian Moslems.

The group has expressed support for President Habibie's
political agenda and regards the national leadership succession
from former president Soeharto to Habibie in May "legal and
constitutional".

In its street rallies to counter antigovernment protests, it
firmly rejects calls to set up a transitional authority to take
over power.

Association of Moslem University Students (Hammas) consists of
Moslem university students, mostly from Jakarta.

Known for its pro-government stand, the group came out in
October to condemn the Volunteers for Humanity group, which,
according to Hammas, was spreading groundless information about
mass rape occurring during the May riots.

The Big Family of the University of Indonesia (KB UI) the
group comprises mostly University of Indonesia students from its
campus in Depok.

The group is demanding, among other things, an end to ABRI's
dual role. It has rejected the results of the Special Session and
is pressing for the immediate establishment of a People's
Council, saying the council should consist of leading figures who
have strong mass support to form a transitional government.

Collective Forum (Forbes). The group's activists are mostly
students of National University and Trisakti University, as well
as from other organizations such as the vocal Pijar Foundation.

Forbes rejects the results of the MPR session on the grounds
that they were "legally defective". It is also demanding that
Wiranto and Habibie be held responsible for the Semanggi tragedy.

Indonesian Moslem Students' Action Front (KAMMI). The group
was set up on March 29, 1998 in Malang, East Java, and claims to
have branches in 26 provinces.

Its main demands are a timely general election and national
reconciliation. It has vowed to use peaceful approaches in its
struggle.

Forum Salemba consists mostly of University of Indonesia
students from its Salemba campus in Central Jakarta. It is less
radical than other student groups.

The group recently released a statement with other groups,
such as KAMMI, HMI, Muhammadiyah Students Association, Indonesian
Students Forum and Yogyakarta Communication Forum of Moslem
Students, accepting the final results of the MPR session. They
said the results were constitutional. The groups also vowed to
continue their fight for change on campus grounds instead of
joining street rallies.

Communication Forum for Greater Jakarta Student Senates
(FKSMJ). The group was set up in 1993 without appointing a
leader. Its activists were mostly members of university senates
or from campus organizations.

In its street rallies, the group divides the city into five
areas. In North Jakarta they center their rallies at August 17th
University; at Moestopo University in South Jakarta; the Teachers
Training Institute (IKIP) in East Jakarta; Mercu Buana University
in West Jakarta; and Yarsi University in Central Jakarta.

Other student groups are, among others, the Indonesian
Nationalists Student Movement (GMNI), the National Coalition,
Students Family of Bandung Institute of Technology, Students
Forum (Forma), Parliament of Indonesian Students, Parliament of
Indonesian Youths, People's Democratic Alliance (Aldera),
Indonesian Moslem Students Association (PMII), Association of
Moslem Students (HMI) and Workers Committee for Reforms. (ste)