Luhur Hertanto, Jakarta – Lively demonstrations against ex-military presidential and vice-presidential candidates are continuing. On the afternoon of Wednesday May 12, around 100 people “run amuck” over the National Election Commission’s (KPU) decision to accept presidential candidates from the military. The KPU was even pelted with eggs.
The action involved activists from the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII), the People’s Democratic Party (PRD), the National Independent Student Movement (GMNK) and the Youth Front to Uphold the National Mandate (BMPAN).
The action, which was held in front of the KPU on Jalan Iman Bonjol in Central Jakarta started at 4pm. After 45 minutes the demonstrators began to run amuck and pelted the sign in front of the KPU offices with eggs. “Reject military presidential candidates”, shouted demonstrators as they threw the eggs.
The demonstrators called on the KPU to block the registration of military figures bearing in mind that the KPU as an institution organising the elections has a moral obligation to protect democracy.
“If a military presidential candidates is elected there is no guarantee that their government will not apply a militaristic [style of rule]”, said one of the participants in a speech.
The demonstrators, most of whom were students, said they do not trust [former armed forces chief and Golkar Party presidential candidate] Wiranto who they claimed was anti-democratic. They said that the words of [former President] Suharto’s ex-adjutant are only a sweetener to attract the sympathy of the masses.
“Governments [run] by military figures everywhere always employ militaristic systems”, emphasised one of the demonstrators.
During the action they carried photographs of [former coordinating minister for politics and security and Democratic Party presidential candidate] Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), Wiranto and President Megawati Sukarnoputri with signs around their necks reading “Mega-SBY-Wiranto No”.
Although Megawati is not from the military, they said that she has joined the list of rejected candidates because she has allowed militaristic acts to be taken against civilians. During the Megawati government, military violence against civilians has been increasing. They said that the Megawati government has paid no heed to democracy. (iy)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
