Students march to Soeharto's home

Students march to Soeharto's home

JAKARTA (JP): Some 3,000 students marched through the capital
on Thursday afternoon in the second attempt this week to protest
outside the residence of former president Soeharto.

But the march was stopped by the military one kilometer from
Soeharto's residence in the upscale Menteng area at about 3 p.m.

"We are not afraid of your weapons. Our weapon is the truth,"
read a banner in the front row of the rally as they came up
against some 200 troops and marines blocking the way.

The march came shortly after President B.J. Habibie, under
fire for the violent handling of demonstrations last week which
left 15 dead, appealed for unity to prevent the country
descending into chaos.

The students linked arms to prevent nonstudents from
infiltrating their ranks. They sat down on Jl. Diponegoro,
singing and chanting, as they negotiated their way through the
security cordon. Helicopters circled overhead.

A smaller group of some 40 students on Monday was called off
after they advance was blocked by troops at the same spot.

Students blame Soeharto, who was forced to resign amid
widespread demonstrations in May, for the country's troubles and
are demanding that he be put on trial.

They have also charged that the 77-year-old former leader
continues to pull strings behind the scenes, and has been behind
efforts to foil the country's reform drive.

Noted Australia-based scholar Arief Budiman, who is visiting
here, expressed support through his presence at the march.

Efforts to stop the students, the former 1960s student
activist said, "could pose more trouble," because "student
demonstrations are now needed to keep a check on President B.J.
Habibie in case he goes off the rails (of the reform agenda)."

Earlier in the day, during a rally involving hundreds of
students, flowers were showered down from the Semanggi cloverleaf
near the site where students were shot at last Friday.

Women's organizations Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's
Solidarity) and Suara Ibu Peduli (Voice of Concerned Mothers)
also staged peaceful rallies at the nearby Atma Jaya University
to condemn the military brutality.

"Mothers' love was smashed by bullets," one of their many
posters reads. They presented their statement to Atma Jaya rector
Thomas Suyatno, which demanded Habibie's accountability, bringing
Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander
Gen. Wiranto to trial and an end to ABRI's dual role.

In the West Sumatra capital of Padang hundreds of students
occupied the Tabing airport to address the Minister of
Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin who was to return to Jakarta. They
surrounded him on his arrival at 4:30 p.m. Police tried to stop
them but finally Soleh and Governor Muchlis Ibrahim decided to
talk to them. They asked the minister to convey their demands to
end ABRI's dual role and Wiranto's resignation.

In Manado, North Sulawesi, Antara reported that police and
military personnel flushed out about 100 students from the
provincial legislature on Wednesday evening.

Students took over the legislature on Monday, repeating
protests to end ABRI's sociopolitical role and also demand that
Soeharto be brought to trial for alleged corrupt practices and
human rights abuses during his 32-year rule.

The students were evicted after the authorities failed to
persuade them to leave. There were no reports of injuries.

In Yogyakarta, thousands of students marched from the Sanata
Dharma University to Gadjah Mada University, two kilometers away,
also to protest ABRI's dual function. They also mourned the
victims in Jakarta.

"Stop killing your own nation," one banner read.

Thousands of members of Student Solidarity for People's
Sovereignty, marching along Jl. Malioboro, demanded Wiranto's
resignation.

"ABRI's dual function is out of date," another banner said.
Street singers and children also joined the protest.

The students then marched to the north square of the Sultan's
palace and held a free-speech forum.

At the local police headquarters, some 500 students from the
University of National Development lowered the flag to half mast.

Students in the thousands also staged protests against ABRI in
the North Sumatra capital of Medan, where they were joined by
representatives of workers, drivers and residents living around
PT Inti Indorayon Utama in North Tapanuli.

In the Central Java town of Purwokerto students of the
Association of Moslem Students marched to the regency office. One
poster read "We reject accusations of treason," in reference to
ongoing questioning of elderly activists in Jakarta.

Meanwhile Antara quoted the Indonesian Ulemas Council appeal
for Moslems across the country to offer prayers for the deceased
victims of the Semanggi tragedy after the Friday prayers. (team)