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)