Gunawan Mashar, Makassar – Students in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar have again held demonstrations rejecting the draft law on the TNI (armed forces) at the local parliament on Jalan Urip Sumohardjo on Monday August 16.

One hundred students from the People’s Coalition Against Militarism (Koalisi Rakyat Anti Militerisme, Koramil) arrived at the South Sulawesi provincial parliament at 11am. They were calling for proposed discussions on the draft law on the TNI to be canceled.

“We must thwart the military’s legal ticket to strengthening their power”, said one of the students Adi, during a speech. The students also urged all Indonesian people build unity against militarism.

The demonstrators brought scores of banners and posters reading “Reject the draft law on the TNI” and took turns in giving speeches. As well as giving speeches they also shouted and sung songs of struggle.

Koramil is made up of a number of student organisations including the National Student League for Democracy (LMND), the Makassar State University Student Executive Council (UNM) and the South Sulawesi People’s Democratic Party (PRD).

[Translated by James Balowski.]