Students protest C. Java PON bid

SEMARANG (JP): About 50 students staged on Wednesday a protest against a provincial administration plan to host the 2004 National Games (PON).

"People in Central Java are poor and about 11 million children suffer from malnutrition. Why is the Central Java administration willing to spend Rp 200 billion (US$29.4 million) to stage the Games. It's arrogant. The money would be better used to feed the children and eradicate poverty in the province," the students said in a statement delivered in front of the Central Java administration office.

"The plan is ironic. If the administration insists on staging the Games, students will also insist on stopping it. We'll keep on fighting the administration's plan. We urge the administration to cancel the plan," said coordinator Fata Muriana.

The students hailed from a variety of non-governmental organizations, including the Wahyu Sosial Foundation, Setara, ASA, PKBI and the Semarang People's Advice Forum.

Central Java is bidding to host the 2004 Games together with West Java, North Sumatra and South Sumatra. The National Sports Council (KONI) will announce the host of the Games at a national congress in February. (har)