Students take Golkar protest to the zoo
Students take Golkar protest to the zoo
JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of students headed to Gembira Loka Zoo in
Yogyakarta on Saturday to voice their grievances against the
Golkar Party, following the Supreme Court's rejection of a suit
against the party.
The students, grouped in the Communication Institution Forum
of Yogyakarta Students (FKLMY), walked a distance of four
kilometers from the Village Community Development Institute
(STPMD) campus in Timoho, Yogyakarta.
On the way to the zoo, they staged a free speech forum for
several minutes in front of the Yogyakarta Legislative Council,
reiterating their demand for the dissolution of Golkar, which,
they said, allegedly committed violations in the past general
election and other misconducts during the New Order government.
The Supreme Court Justice banged the gavel on Tuesday,
disallowing a suit to dissolve the party, saying in the verdict
that there was a lack of legitimate evidence to support the suit
filed by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
A five-member panel of justices, presided over by Asma Samik
Ibrahim, said the plaintiffs had failed to provide legitimate
evidence.
"The evidence submitted were photocopies of references and
articles clipped from newspapers and magazines, reporting the
alleged violations committed by the party. Such evidence is not
acceptable," Asma said.
Several banners unfurled by the students during Saturday's
protest read "Dissolve Golkar, Bring Soeharto to Court",
"Cooperating with Golkar is the People's Enemy" and "Hold a Snap
Election." Besides the banners, the students also staged an art
protest depicting the sins of Golkar and the New Order, which
they said had burdened the people, detikcom reported on Sunday.
The art protest showed two men in underwear with their arms
tied with rope being tortured by two officials wearing yellow
clothes bearing the name Golkar on their back.
Accompanied by security officers, the students went straight
to the gate at the orangutan exhibit, where they read their
demands, which included the issuance of a nonconfidence motion
against the current political elite and the necessity for a snap
election.
They also demanded the dissolution of Golkar and trials of
those implicated in past economic, political and human rights
violations. (hhr)