Students press ahead with demands for reform

Students press ahead with demands for reform

JAKARTA (JP): Students pressed ahead with their demands for
political reform and lower prices of basic commodities as small
scale protests continued in several universities.

Unlike previous days, there were no protests at four of the
country's major state-run universities -- the University of
Indonesia in Jakarta, Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta,
Diponegoro University in Semarang, and Airlangga University in
Surabaya.

But protests were seen yesterday at private universities in
Surabaya, Bandar Lampung, Medan and here in Jakarta.

A small demonstration involving dozens of students of the Adhi
Tama Surabaya Institute of Technology in Surabaya, East Java,
demanded "a clean government which favors political reform".

Separately, a small protest across town was also held by
activists from the Surabaya chapter of the Association of
Catholic Students (PMKRI).

Surrounded by riot police, they called on the authorities to
leave them be.

"Don't approach us with violence. We are not thieves. We are
voicing the people's aspirations," one of the activists shouted
at police.

One of their posters read: "Selamat Kepada Mr. Soeharto dan
Mr. Habibie. Selamat Melakukan Reformasi" (Congratulations
Soeharto and Habibie. Please Initiate Reform).

From Bandar Lampung, Lampung, Antara reported that an on-
campus protest was staged by hundreds of students of Lampung
University.

They were apparently joined by fellow students from several
other local universities in the province.

The same demonstration was also reported in North Sumatra's
capital of Medan.

Here, hundreds of students of the state-run Sumatra Utara
University continued their on-campus protests.

While some chose to express their dissatisfaction at the state
of the nation by raising their voices, others tried to directly
help alleviate the suffering of the needy.

Students of the privately run Dr. Soetomo University in
Surabaya sold more than 1,400 packages of basic essentials worth
Rp 4 million (US$400) at rock bottom prices.

Similar acts of altruism were displayed in Lamongan and Tuban
regencies just outside Surabaya.

Meanwhile in Jakarta about 100 students from Nasional
University staged a loud protest on their campus in South
Jakarta.

The students reportedly tried to leave their campus but were
stopped by riot police who were there to enforce a strict ban on
street protests.

Yesterday's minor incident was another minor dent in the
generally peaceful on-campus rallies which has persisted for
several weeks.

Last week, in Surabaya, seven students and a police officer
were injured in a brief clash near the entrance gate of the
Surabaya Institute of Technology.

All other protests so far have proceeded peacefully over the
last three weeks although tens of thousands of students from more
than 40 universities across the country -- accompanied by their
lecturers -- have joined in the rallies.

Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto has said the military
would tolerate on-campus protests, but he warned that stern
action would be taken once students marched off their
campuses. (26/nur/aan)