Medan-Solo-Surabaya-Malang – There have been more demonstrations by students over the Supreme Court’s verdict in the appeal by [Golkar Party chief] Akbar Tanjung [against corruption charges]. In Medan, for example, scores of students from the North Sumatra Indonesian Muslim Students United Action Front (KAMMI) demonstrated at the North Sumatra regional parliament on Friday February 13.

They urged the Supreme Court to review the decision to release Akbar Tanjung. The demonstrators also condemned the actions of the security forces who acted repressively towards students who were demonstrating [against the verdict] in Jakarta [on February 12].

Similar actions were also held by around 1000 students from Solo and Yogyakarta in Central Java and Semarang in East Java, in front of the Golkar Party offices in Solo. Before around 200 Golkar Party supporters made up of party security officers, the Golkar Party Youth Movement (AMPG) and core party leaders wearing the symbol of the Banyan Tree [Golkar’s symbol], they condemned Akbar Tanjung’s release.

In Surabaya, East Java, 500 people from a number of student groups also held a demonstration in front of the State Grahadi building on Jalan Gubernur Suryo. They condemned the Supreme Courts decision to release Akbar Tanjung. “The release of Akbar Tanjung will be the precursor to the release of other corrupters”, KAMMI’s public relations officer Cahyo told the Tempo News Room. The students also condemned the repressive actions by security forces against students in front of the Supreme Court building in Jakarta which resulted in scores of students being wounded. “The people must be on guard. The New Order [regime of former President Suharto] is reemerging”, said Cahyo.

Meanwhile in Malang, East Java, condemnations against the Supreme Courts verdict were voiced by around 100 students from KAMMI, the Brawijaya Student Executive Council (BEM), the University Merdeka BEM and the Social Alliance Against Corruption.

“The Supreme Courts decision sets a bad president for the enforcement of justice in Indonesia and means that it will be impossible to seek justice in this county. Imagine, now even the last fortress for us to seek justice is prepared to free a corrupter”, said Malang KAMMI chairperson Rully Novianto.

[Translated by James Balowski.]