Students remembered as reform marches forward
By Ivy Susanti
JAKARTA (JP): Two weeks ago, the fatal shooting of four Trisakti University students, demonstrating for reform on campus, rocked the nation.
One small condolence for the parents was that their sons did not die for nothing, instead, the incident marked a bloody turning point in Indonesia's political history.
Only nine days after the May 12 shootings, then president Soeharto hastily dispelled his two-month-old cabinet and announced his resignation after 32 years in power.
Many believe that Indonesia is embarking on a new era with a chance at real democracy in all aspects of life.
It was not only students and their families, but people throughout the archipelago, that grieved for Elang Mulya, Hafidhin Royan, Hendriawan Lesmana and Hery Hartanto.
Their deaths strengthened the people's spirit for reform, which could now be considered as nearing the half-way mark.
The cause which drew the four students to the antigovernment rally -- and put them in the firing line -- earned them titles such as Reform Heroes, Champions of Reform, and Flowers of Reform.
And the Trisakti campus on Jl. Kyai Tapa in West Jakarta has been dubbed the Campus of Reform.
But the "new" government, which is busy implementing reform, has yet to bestow specific titles on the four victims in line with public will.
But lecturers, the students' peers and relatives argue that the four deserve to be officially recognized as the nation's reform heroes.
"Look at our country now. There have been many positive changes," Hery's mother Lasmiati told The Jakarta Post yesterday. But she admitted she had not submitted a proposal to university officials about her son's status.
One of the victims' friends, Iwan Kurniawan, said: "I totally agree that my peers who were killed in the shooting should be declared national heroes of reform."
According to the dean of Trisakti's School of Law, Adi Andojo, the university has received calls from various parties that the four be made national heroes and May 12 be a national day of mourning.
"The university's top officials are still considering these matters and have not made any decision yet as we're still waiting for a transparent explanation for the shootings from the Armed Forces," the outspoken former Supreme Court justice said.
A lecturer, Advendi Simangunsong, said the university might wait for the "right moment" before proposing to the current government that the students be declared heroes.
"All students and lecturers here have rejected the installment of B.J. Habibie as the new president replacing Soeharto. We consider it unconstitutional," Advendi said.
"In my opinion, if we submit the proposal, that means we accept him as the President, that we acknowledge the current government."
Trisakti student senate chairman Julianto Hendro Cahyono, who was shot in the right side of his chest during the incident, said he had no idea when the proposal would be submitted to the government.
"We are not certain how long the current government will survive," Hendro said.
Iwan of the School of Mineral Technology also said the recommendation would be proposed later when the status of the government was clear.
In the interim, the university and relatives of the victims must wait for the authorities to name the suspects in the shootings.
"I'm not satisfied with the Armed Forces' explanation. It's not clear who did it and what unit they are from," Lasmiati said.
Regardless of the government's decision on the students' status, the university plans to erect a monument within the campus for their fallen heroes, Adi said.
"We'll hold a contest to pick the best design for the monument. Actually, students from the School of Art and Design here have already contributed one design," he said.