Trisakti observes death of students

JAKARTA (JP): More than 200 students congregated at Trisakti University in Grogol, West Jakarta, Saturday evening to mark the 40th day of the death of four of the university's students in a police shooting at the campus on May 12.

A huge banner saying Selamat Jalan Sahabat (Goodbye buddies) and the date they were killed was displayed at the commons inside the campus compound.

No security personnel were deployed to safeguard the ceremony. Several students, however, were seen screening visitors at the gates.

The ceremony opened with music, poetry and theatrical performances, portraying themes ranging from the tragic shootings to the capital's massive riots that led to the downfall of former president Soeharto.

The ceremony came to a climax at about 9 p.m. with the screening of a documentary film about the Trisakti student rally on May 12.

The film was produced by renowned musician Harry Roesli from various clips contributed by individuals and local and foreign television stations.

Screams of anger and horror erupted from the crowd as the huge screen displayed security officers, wearing vests with "police" on the back, chasing after students and aiming their rifles into the campus compound.

"ABRI (the Armed Forces), you killer!" one of the students shouted.

Some students sat in shock when the film showed officers lined up on the flyover in front of the university's gate firing into the crowd.

The crowd calmed down when the screen showed injured and dead students rushed to a nearby hospital.

The families of the four victims -- Elang Mulia Lesmana, Hafidhin Royan, Hendriawan Sie and Hery Hartanto -- along with friends and the university's rector were shown grieving over the dead bodies, while a singer sang "Don't cry, Indonesia. Don't be sad, Indonesia."

The spectators booed when Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin appeared in the film, visiting Hira Tety, Elang's mother, to express his condolences on May 13.

A student, who was with Elang shortly after the shooting and witnessed his death, testified in the movie.

"I saw Elang suffer while he had difficulty breathing. He seemed to be suffocating. It was impossible at the time to take him to a hospital. I am trained in CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), so I tried to give him artificial breathing.

"But after several tries, his condition worsened. A few moments later, he stopped breathing," he said, bursting into tears.

The 45-minute film ended with a poetry reading by Taufik Ismail urging students nationwide to never forget the four students and to keep struggling for reform.

After the poetry reading, another documentary film compiled by Trisakti students was screened.

The black-and-white film also recounted the student rally and testimonies of the victims' relatives. The 35-minute film was accompanied by songs, ranging from the heroic hymn Gugur Bunga to Gary Moore's 'Still Got the Blues.

After the screenings, some students were heard shouting "Football... football!" while others discussed the night's matches.

The students dispersed peacefully after the ceremony was closed by a prayer led by poet Emha Ainun Nadjib at about 11:30 p.m. (ivy)