Dian Intannia, Jakarta – Scores of students from the City Network (Jaringan Kota) have again demonstrated against military presidential and vice-presidential candidates by burning photographs of [former armed forces chief and Golkar presidential candidate] Wiranto, [former coordinating minister for politics and security and Democratic Party presidential candidate] Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and former minister of communications and vice-presidential candidate retired General Agum Gumelar.

The photographs of ex-military presidential and vice-presidential candidates  were burnt when City Network was holding a demonstration in front of the national parliament on Jalan Gatot Soebroto in Jakarta on Monday May 31. “Reject… reject… reject the military, reject the military now” shouted the demonstrators as they burnt the photographs and a military shirt.

According to City Network’s public relations officer, Rey, it is inappropriate for either Wiranto or SBY to become the next president of Indonesia and their presence on the Indonesian political state is only for the sake of saving [former President] Suharto and his cronies.

“Both of them are being backed by forces from the Cendana [Suharto’s Central Jakarta neighborhood, the relatives of the Suharto clan]. Moreover, how can they be able of upholding the law and human rights in this country if they themselves have been involved in human rights violations”, said Rey.

After burning the photographs and shirt the demonstrators disbanded. They are planning to travel around Jakarta to hand out anti-military leaflets. (djo)

[Translated by James Balowski.]