Jakarta – Opposition to presidential candidates originating from the military is continuing. On Monday April 26, scores of activists from the Student Action Committee of Democratic Concern (Komite Aksi Mahasiswa Peduli Demokrasi, KAMPD) set fire to photographs of Wiranto, as a symbol of this opposition.
The action, in which photographs of the former TNI (armed forces) chief were burnt, occurred when KAMPD held a demonstration at the campus of the Institute of Information and Computer Studies on Jalan BRI, Radio Dalam in South Jakarta.
‘We reject presidential candidates who originate from military circles. Wiranto’s name is also linked with a number of cases of human rights violations such as the Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies1. If Wiranto or other representatives from the military rise [to power], democracy will no longer function. Everything will be resolved by violence”, said Ushu Luddin, one of the students.
What about [recently resigned coordinating minister for politics and security] Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)? Luddin said that like Wiranto, KAMPD also rejected SBY as a presidential candidate. “The burning of Wiranto’s photographs is a symbol of our opposition. On the other hand, we actually don’t have any photographs of SBY”, he said smiling.
As well as burning Wiranto’s photographs, the demonstrators also burnt military uniforms and handed out leaflets containing a 10 point agenda of reformasi total which must be carried out by the next elected president.
The 10 point agenda included upholding the supremacy of law, having the courage to try former President Suharto and his cronies, having the courage to eliminate corruption, collusion and nepotism, having the courage to clarify the dual social and political role of the armed forces and having the courage to eliminate the political parties and political groups of Suharto’s New Order regime.(djo)
Notes:
1. In May 1998, security personnel shot into a crowd of student protesters from the Trisakti University near their campus in West Jakarta, killing four students and injuring several. This proved to be the spark which set-off three days of mass demonstrations and rioting in Jakarta which eventually lead to the overthrow of former President Suharto. The Semanggi I and II cases involved the fatal shooting of dozens of student demonstrators in Jakarta in November 1998 and September 1999 respectively.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
