Muhammad Fasabeni, Heru C.N., Jakarta – Hundreds of people from a number of organisations such as the Greater Jakarta Student Executive Council (BEM-Sejabotabek), the United Opposition Front (BOB), the National Student League for Democracy (LMND) and the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) held a demonstration in front of the faculty of medicine at the University of Indonesia in Salemba, Central Jakarta. A solidarity action was also held by BEM at the University of Gajah Mada and the Sunan Kalijaga State Institute of Islamic Studies in Yogyakarta, Central Java.

BOB coordinator Dita Indah Sari said that the incident which occurred in Makassar [when police stormed the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI) wounding scores of student demonstrators on May 1] was a form of militarism. According to Dita acts of militarism are not just carried out by people wearing military uniforms but also by civilians who submit to the directions of the military.

Dita demanded that the Indonesian chief of police be deactivated. “It is not enough just to deactivate the [Makassar] provincial and regional police chiefs but the Indonesian chief of police must take responsibility”, she said. Moreover added Dita, the incident at UMI represents a violation of human rights which must be taken before the courts because it resulted in around 70 people being wounded.

During the demonstration, which continued for around one hour, speeches were given opposing the military. Seen among the demonstrators was the former chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Unity Party (PUDI), Sri Bintang Pamuingkas. Demonstrators also set fire to symbols of the military such as military uniforms and flags of the [former state ruling party] Golkar and [President Megawati Sukarnoputri’s] Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

[Translated by James Balowski.]