Students take stage as Gus Dur's supporters leave

Students take stage as Gus Dur's supporters leave

JAKARTA (JP): Rallies in support of beleaguered President
Abdurrahman Wahid took a totally different turn on Friday when
militant groups of students took to the street in the place of
his die-hard supporters, who started leaving the city for their
home towns in East Java.

The President's student supporters staged rallies in front of
the presidential palace, Central Jakarta, to protest the House of
Representatives' (DPR) decision to recommend a special session of
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which could potentially
lead to his impeachment.

Prayers to God and praises to prophet Muhammad filled the air
when his die-hard supporters crowded in front of the palace on
Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday's rally, however, was dominated by revolutionary
slogans, such as Revolusi sampai mati (Revolution to the death)
or Revolusi sekarang juga (Revolution now), as militant
supporters, mostly students, took the spotlight.

Most protesters were from student action organizations, such
as Famred, Forbes, FND and Pijar, united under the Information
Center for People's Struggle.

The rally started late in the afternoon, at about 3 p.m.,
allowing supporters to observe the Friday prayers.

As the student-dominated crowd was preparing to march to the
National Monument (Monas) park, many of Abdurrahman's supporters
from East Java were seen flooding into the park with their
luggage ready to go home.

They, however, refused to confirm that they were returning
home.

"No, I always carry the bag. We are not going home yet," a
supporter told The Jakarta Post while hurriedly leaving.

Meanwhile, another supporter, Irfan from Jombang, East Java,
admitted that many of the supporters were going home, but added
that many more die-hard supporters would come to Jakarta in their
place.

"Most of those who are leaving are older people and women. As
for myself, I will stay until Gus Dur issues the edict (to
declare a state of emergency)," he said, while holding his travel
bag.

Following the House's decision on Wednesday to recommend a
special session of the MPR, thousands of Abdurrahman supporters
staged a rally in front of the presidential palace, demanding
that the president issue an edict to declare a state of
emergency, to be followed by dissolution of the House, banning of
the Golkar Party and a snap general election.

On Thursday, these supporters again picketed the presidential
palace amid rumors that the President would deliver a speech in
front of the building. This event, however, never materialized.

At about 4 p.m. on Friday, many of these supporters were seen
withdrawing from the crowd and by about 5 p.m. it was apparent
that there were not many remaining. Only students were seen
rallying in front of the palace.

Adj. Commissioner Sucipto of the Gambir police subprecinct
told the Post that most of the supporters would use a special
train to return to their home towns.

The train would leave at about 6:30 p.m. from Senen railway
station in Central Jakarta, he said.

It was reported that about 200 supporters departed from the
Senen railway station on Thursday.

Separately, the spokesman for state railway company PT Kereta
Api Indonesia (KAI)'s Greater Jakarta operations unit, Zainal
Abidin, said the company would provide extra transportation for
the President's supporters until Sunday.

The company provided a special train to transport the
supporters to Probolinggo, East Java, which left the Senen
station at about 6:40 p.m. on Friday carrying some 1,200
supporters.

In addition, the company also reserved two regular trains to
transport other groups of supporters to East Java. They were the
Gaya Baru train leaving for Surabaya and the Matarmaja train
leaving for Malang.

In total, the company transported some 1,700 supporters on
Friday, Zainal said.

According to KAI's data, a total of 4,800 Abdurrahman
supporters had arrived in the city using various trains from East
and Central Java.

"We are ready to transport them back to their home towns. We
are also ready to transport those who came here using buses.

"We will use the regular trains if they come in small groups,
but if they come in large number we will provide a special train
to carry them home," he said. (hdn/nvn)