Astrid Felicia Lim, Jakarta – Actions rejecting militarism and the New Order [regime of former President Suharto] continue to be organised. At a free speech forum on Tuesday April 27 at the campus of the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) in Salemba, Central Jakarta, students set fire to photographs of [presidential candidates] Wiranto and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).
The UKI free speech forum included a number of events starting with a speech through to a music presentation. The free speech forum itself was titled “May in Action” (Mai Bergerak)”.
The burning of Wiranto and SBY’s photographs was done as a symbolic rejection of militarism. According to students, the two retired generals were involved in a number of cases of human rights violations.
“These two people were involved in a number of incidents, Trisakti, Semanggi1, as well as the May 1998 riots [in Jakarta]. It is as if the public has forgotten these incidents. While in fact all of these incidents took many lives”, said a student during a speech from the stage.
The public relations officer for the free speech forum, Jefri Silalahi, said that the action was part of a road-show covering 24 campuses in Greater Jakarta. Actions rejecting militarism and the New Order will continue until next May. “To fit in with our theme, that is May in Action”, explained Silalahi.
However according to Detik.com’s observations at the event, there were not many supporters present. The event itself was held in the grounds of the UKI campus so it did not disrupt traffic on Jalan Diponegoro. Police could be seen on alert near the action.(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.]
