Students mark Semanggi incident

JAKARTA (JP): About 250 proreform students and activists commemorated the one-month anniversary of the Nov. 13 Semanggi incident on Monday afternoon by demanding the government not let its investigation lapse.

They held a discussion on human rights violations at Atma Jaya University and the Gita Swara Jaya choir performed several solemn songs, including Ismail Marzuki's Gugur Bunga (Fallen Flowers), Guruh Soekarnoputra's Melati Suci (Sacred Jasmine), Allen Pote's Prayer of St. Francis and Rodgers and Hammerstein's You'll Never Walk Alone.

The Black Friday incident at the Semanggi cloverleaf, in front of the Atma Jaya campus, claimed the lives of 10 people, including eight students, when troops fired on the sea of demonstrators.

Organizers of Monday's commemoration called for the government to immediately clarify the circumstances of the shooting and those responsible.

"We feel that the government has attempted to close the Semanggi incident. It thinks that by keeping its mouth shut tight and doing nothing to probe the case, people will forget," student Pahala of Atma Jaya University said.

Noted activists in attendance, such as Hendardi and Karlina Leksono, echoed the need for quick closure to the case.

"The government has already taken too much time to reveal the Semanggi incident," commented Hendardi. (edt)