Students rally at Council compound

PADANG, West Sumatra: Hundreds of students staged three different rallies at the West Sumatra Provincial Legislative Council's compound here on Friday, demanding guarantees of improved public transport, an end to the military's sociopolitical role and an assurance that the fuel hike would not affect public transport fares.

The rallies were staged by the Padang Front, the Students' Action Forum and the Solidarity Forum of Concerned University Students.

The students urged councillors to focus on the transportation problem by providing improved local transport that is affordable, especially for students.

Deputy council speaker Masfar Rasyid agreed to forward the students' demands to the People's Consultative Assembly and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. (28/lup)