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)