Students hold demonstration

YOGYAKARTA: Some 200 students from local universities held a demonstration on the Gadjah Mada University campus here yesterday, calling for greater democratization and the release of detained pro-democracy activists.

Calling themselves the Committee of Concerned Youths of Yogyakarta, the students yelled and marched around the campus dragging a "coffin of democracy."

"Long live democracy, long live democracy!" was among their shouts. The students also waved placards written with, among other things, "Differences of opinion are not sins," "Away with feudalism and nepotism."

The students gave speeches critical of the current political situation. Each was greeted with yells of "Boycott general elections!"

The students also shouted that the government should abolish the current laws on politics, and release pro-democracy activists such as rebel politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas and labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan.

At least three truckloads of military personnel were deployed to oversee the demonstration. The procession was not allowed to leave the campus and no violence was reported. (23)