Surabaya students stage peaceful food protest

Surabaya students stage peaceful food protest

SURABAYA, East Java (JP): With the support of senior
professors and lecturers, thousands of state-run Airlangga
University students staged a peaceful demonstration on campus
Saturday.

Similar to other recent on-campus rallies, the crowd -- led by
the university's former rector and former Indonesian ambassador
to UNESCO Prof. Marsetio Donoseputro -- demanded the government
bring down prices of basic commodities and introduce total
economic and political reform.

"We also urge ABRI (the Armed Forces) to take immediate
concrete action to help create an atmosphere conducive to the
reform efforts," said Marsetio.

Among other participants in the two-hour rally were senior
university lecturers, including Prof. Miendoro, Prof. Asmino,
Prof. Karyadi, Hotman Siahaan, economist Tjoek Sukiadi and lawyer
Trimoelya D. Suryadi.

There was no intervention by security personnel despite harsh
remarks made by the speakers and hand-held banners strongly
criticizing the government.

One of the banners read: "Our leader is never serious".

During the rally on Dharmawangsa green inside the university,
Marsetio read out a 12-point notice titled Statement of Concern
of Airlangga University's Academics.

"We urge the ruling power to set up a transparent, honest and
clean government and start to take harsh action against
corruptors regardless of their background," the statement said.

According to Marsetio, their requests were purely based on
people's demands for trust and justice.

Hotman said: "It's a general concern. The students (in the
rally) were not moved or motivated by their professors. No, they
did it at their own choice. It means that everybody feels the
same thing now."

According to Hotman, the demonstration was a moral movement
and not political.

"We just want to express our concerns. That's all." Hotman
said.

The demonstration ended peacefully when all the participants
walked around the campus singing the national anthem and heroic
songs.

A day earlier, about 1,000 students of the Institute of
Technology here also demonstrated peacefully on their campus in
Sukolilo. Their demands were the same.

Hundreds of students of the Muhamadiyah University in
Magelang, Central Java, also staged a peaceful campus
demonstration, protesting increased prices and a plan to hike
tuition fees.

Dozens of security officers were dispatched to blockade the
campus, stopping the students from taking to the streets.
(nur/26/har)