Students firm on national strike

Students firm on national strike

JAKARTA (JP): As of Sunday evening, the Student Executive
Boards (BEMs) from several universities across the country
maintained their commitment to carry on with the planned national
strike on Monday to campaign for President Abdurrahman Wahid's
resignation.

University of Indonesia's (UI) BEM chairman Taufik Riyadi said
the public could join the planned strike or support the movement.

"We call on the public to support Monday's strike by joining
us or giving moral support.

"However, we won't force people to strike. Everyone can go to
work as usual," Taufik told The Jakarta Post.

In anticipation of provocation during the strike, BEMs will
provide specific banners for the protesters and call for extra
caution.

"People should be aware of provocation as we've heard that
certain groups will attempt to transform the strike into
anarchy," Taufik said.

The students will gather at several universities in the
capital at 10 a.m. before heading to the Hotel Indonesia (HI)
traffic circle, after which they will march to the state palace.

"People can join us at the traffic circle or go straight to
the palace. We'll make sure that nothing bad will happen during
the strike," he said.

It was reported on Sunday that public minivans, minibuses and
taxi operators in the capital have stated their willingness to
join the strike on Monday.

Workers of Belawan port in Medan, North Sumatra, and from
several factories in Greater Jakarta will also reportedly join
the strike.

Separately, Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman
said on Sunday that he was "not too worried" about the planned
mass demonstrations on Monday and would only declare a top city
alert, locally known as Waspada I, if the situation called for
it.

"Everything will be secured tomorrow (Monday). I'll have about
7,500 to 9,000 police officers deployed in Greater Jakarta. There
is really nothing to worry about," Mulyono told reporters at city
police headquarters.

"I strongly urge the public to go about their duties and
activities as normal. There is not much need to worry yourselves
over the demonstrations. Go about doing your work and stay safe."

He added that police trucks would be ready to pick up stranded
bus passengers in certain areas in case of public transportation
strikes.

Similarly, the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) will
ready its vehicles in anticipation of the national strike on
Monday, an officer said on Sunday.

"I hear the strike will also be held by drivers of public
transportation, therefore we plan to prepare some of our vehicles
should they be required," operational assistant to Kostrad chief
Col. Bambang Darmono said after presiding over the ceremony of
190 unit commanders of Kostrad divisions I and II.

Meanwhile, some 2,000 BEM students staged a protest at HI
traffic circle on Sunday, urging the public to join the planned
strike to force Abdurrahman's resignation.

The students started their rally at around 9 a.m., carrying
posters and banners. The students then divided themselves into
five groups traveling throughout the capital to promote their
strike plan to the public.

Besides UI's BEM, other student movements joining the parade
were Jakarta State University and private Muhammadiyah
University, National University, Mercubuana University and
Trisakti University.

Waving banners with slogans such as: "Gus Dur the Golden Boy
of the New Order Regime"; "No to Gus Dur"; and "Gus Dur Go Now",
the students continued their rally until Sunday afternoon.

Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged the students not
to promote unconstitutional ways in judging the current political
situation.

"We have to listen to the (students') aspirations. But I ask
them not to ruin the democratic process while expressing their
aspirations," Susilo said in a statement, copies of which were
made available to the press on Sunday.

Meanwhile in Purwokerto, Central Java, Jenderal Soedirman
State University rector Rubiyanto Misman told the Post that it is
the students' right to organize the national strike, but called
on the students to conduct it peacefully.

"Basically, the student movement is a moral movement and as
long as the strike does not promote the interests of certain
political groups, then I agree," Rubiyanto said in a telephone
interview.

He, however, warned that holding the strike will not provide
much help in solving the country's problems, and in fact may
worsen the economic condition.

"If asked for my suggestion, I'll advise the people to
continue their duties and not join the strike," Rubiyanto said.
(02/45/dja/edt/ylt)