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)