Woro Swasti, Jakarta – On Monday April 19, the United Opposition Front (Barisan Oposisi Bersatu, BOB), which was established by 14 student organisations, held a demonstration rejecting the results of vote counting in the recent legislative elections.

The action, which was held in front of the gates of Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta, involved students from the Muhammadiyah Student Association (IMM), HPM MPO, the National Student League for Democracy (LMND), the National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi).

In a statement issued by BOB, the students gave two reasons for rejecting the election results. Firstly because Golkar [the state ruling party of former President Suharto] and PDI-P [President Megawati Sukarnoputri’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle] are two of the parties which are responsible for the economic and political problems facing the country but [as a result of the elections they] will continue to dominate the future parliament and administration.

Secondly, the other political parties will not be able to fulfill the people’s hopes for change in a better direction because their economic and political programs are basically the same as those of Golkar and PDI-P.

The students also unfurled a huge red and white banner with the writing “Abandon the Fake Reformists” and carried posters reading “Mega-Akbar No. A People’s Government Yes” and “Unite to Form a People’s Government”. The action broke up when heavy rain began to inundate Jakarta. (aan)

[Translated by James Balowski.]