Students remembered as reform marches forward

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.