---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ and click banner our sponsor ---------------------------------------------------------- JP & Kompas on Human Rights Day demos ===================================== * 17 students injured in clash with security officers - Jakarta Post * Human Rights day demonstrations in various cities - Kompas * Anti-violence demonstrations on rights day - Kompas --------------------------------------------------------------- 17 students injured in clash with security officers =================================================== Jakarta Post - December 10, 1998 Jakarta -- At least 17 student protesters were injured and 33 others detained by the police when demonstrators opposed to President B.J. Habibie and security personnel clashed near the President's residence on Jl. Patra Kuningan XIII in South Jakarta on Wednesday. The injured students were rushed by their fellow colleagues to the nearby MMC hospital on Jl. Rasuna Said and Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta. According to city police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang, the 33 students were being questioned by detectives at the city police headquarters. He refused to give further details. The detainees included students from the Economic Institute of Budi Luhur, Jayabaya University, the University of Indonesia, National University, Muhammad Husni Thamrin University, the ABA- ABI foreign languages academy, Institute of Management and Computer Science (STMIK), and the Don Bosco and Gonzaga Catholic High Schools. The clash occurred in the afternoon when a crowd of some 100 students grouped in the Collective Forum (Forbes) a loose student organization of 11 universities and colleges in Greater Jakarta, refused to obey the security officers' order to disperse peacefully. Those students that were able to escape unhurt fled to the Ministry of Health and other nearby buildings. Several security guards and employees of the nearby Menara Kadin Indonesia building also suffered minor injuries when the security officers entered the building complex to disperse the crowd. South Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Satrya Hari Prasetya told reporters at the scene that the police had to disperse the students because they had violated Law No. 9/1998 on freedom of expression and disrupting public order. "They had not informed us in advance about the rally. Besides, they are also disrupting the traffic. We had the right to disperse them," he said. Protester Ebiet of STMIK said they arrived in the area in six overloaded vans and reached Jl. Patra Kuningan Utara where they were blocked by security officers some 200 meters from Habibie's house. The protesters rejected Habibie as the country's president and called for the immediate establishment of a transitional government. "We'll reject the general election, because it will have been organized by members of the New Order regime. If possible, the transitional power structure will be set up before the election," he said. Ebiet said that the student's visit to Habibie's residence was only to symbolize their struggle. "We think Habibie is the one responsible for everything happening in this country. He is Soeharto's closest crony and he's the one in charge now," Rinto Steven, another Forbes member, said. In the evening, 1,500 members of the City Forum (Forkot) attempted to join the Forbes group in Kuningan. But they were abruptly blockaded at the Kuningan crossroad. At a rally in Central Jakarta a plainclothes police sergeant was beaten by angry students after he had been caught posing as a photo journalist. Human Rights day demonstrations in various cities ================================================= Kompas - December 11, 1998 Jakarta -- The commemoration of 50 Years of the Universal Human Rights Declaration (HAM) on Thursday (10/12), took also place at eight other cities besides Jakarta. It was in general colored by parades, free speech fora, distribution of pamphlets and other activities. The 8 other towns were Ujungpandang, Padang, Lhokseumawe, Banda Aceh, Palu, Bandung, Semarang and Yogyakarta. The "strongest" action probably happened in Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe. In Banda Aceh the students still "occupied" till 18.00 WIT the governor's official house and demanded that various cases of HAM violations would immediately be settled. While in Lhokseumawe, around 400 students held out at the yard of the local Regional House of Representatives and gave an ultimatum to the local officials and Armed Forces (ABRI) to sign their demand which demanded among others the investigating of HAM violations within six months. If they failed, they were asked to step down. Various kinds of statements and demands which were voiced in the action in the nine towns were in general the same, namely to end violence/ill treatment, withdraw ABRI's dual function, perform honest and just general elections, investigate completely all acts of violence of abductions of the activists, the settlement of the cases of Aceh, Tanjungpriok, Banyuwangi etc. Local problem Besides those demands was in some towns also heard the demand on local problems, Eight non government institutions (LSM) in Padang for instance issued a statement of nine stances, among others to end the military operation disguised as guarding security of plantations at the regency of Pasaman, Sijunjung and 50 towns; to restore the traditional government of Nagari and to recognize, develop and institutionalize the value system of the traditional (adat) society. Another action was held by about 100 students who called themselves F-ABRI (Front Aksi Bersama Rakyat Indonesia or the Indonesian People's Joint Action Front) in form of a peaceful and orderly demonstration at the Governor's office at Jl Sudirman. In Aceh the students also demanded 80 percent of the regional revenues in the financial balance of the centrum and the region. While in Ujungpandang, the Legal Aid Institute held a "Dialogue of the Apparat's Violence" with presenting a victim of abduction, Faizal Riza, a citizen from the island of Laelae who was forced to remove, and a number of violation victims in Ujungpandang. In that dialogue, the victims described their experiences in facing treatment which trespassed the limits of humanity. "My older relative was beaten at the police office till he was black and blue, and finally died in hospital. In order to meet my brother, a notable asked us to pay Rp500,000," said Nurlaela (17), one of the family members of the victim who disclosed the ill treatment against her brother. Besides that dialogue the Forum of the Observer of Women Problems also held a peaceful demonstration at the Mandala Monument and the district court of Ujungpandang. In Palu, around 100 students organized in the Anti Violence Committee came to the military quarters: the Head Quarters of the Military Police Detachment VII/2 of Palu, the Military Command 132/Tadulako and the Regional Police of South East Sulawesi. In front of that military post they held a demonstration of silence with displaying a poster of 12 activists, victims of abductions in Jakarta, and a street banner containing the demand to withdraw ABRI's dual function. A similar matter was also performed in Semarang by students from Semarang and Salatiga. They came to the Command Post of the Military Territory IV/Diponegoro, next to the Simpang Lima field, the Regional House of Representatives, and some main roads of that town. A similar action was also performed by a number of non government organizations in Semarang. Some actions also happened in Yogyakarta. Hundreds of students demonstrated in several places. Those who were organized in the Students Action Committee for the People and Democracy came to the Regional House of Representatives, then to the regional government's office of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (the Kepatihan). At the same hour, hundreds of other students who were organized in the alliance of the Indonesian people and students held an oration in front of Malioboro Mall and went also to the Kepatihan. Meanwhile, the Pusat Advokasi HAM (PAHAM) {Center of Human Rights Advisors [UNDERSTANDING]} of Yogya which consists of lawyers and legal experts, stated that HAM violations in Indonesia have reached a critical point. The feeling of security of the people in their daily life is disturbed and unsure. In the evening two discussions related with the HAM commemoration were held at the Indonesian Sovranita Study Institute and the Catholic Students Organization (PMKRI) St Thomas Aquinas in Yogya. In Bandung the demonstration was colored by a not sympathetic act. After parading and holding a free speech forum in front of the Regional House of Representatives building, tens of students closed Jalan Diponegoro. A part of them played soccer at that main road. Their action disturbed the traffic. Anti-violence demonstrations on rights day ========================================== Kompas - December 11, 1998 Jakarta - Uproarious anti violence demonstrations were held to commemorate the Declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations half a century ago on Thursday (10/12) in the capital. On the whole the action went by in a peaceful manner, even though it was joined in by thousands of students, activists, housewifes, professional people, researchers and reporters. It was not just a peaceful affair, the affair became a gross theatrical act. Small incidents caused by instigators, took place at several locations, like Pejambon. They were quickly suppressed by students and security troops. The relatively peaceful situation was made possible because both sides, demonstrators as well as security troops, kept a tight lid on their emotions. The Student Action Front for Reformation and Democration (Famred) resorted to sympathetic and attractive ways to break through the military cordon at the roundabout of Hotel Indonesia without getting into a clash with security men. The students achievement were applauded and encouraged with jubilant roars from the public, while a number of security men stood by and shook their heads in disbelief. This was the largest demonstration since the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in the middle of November 1998. Different from the recent actions in the capital, yesterday's demo went by without security men having to arrest people. Keeping to the anti violence theme and respect of human rights, the crowd also consisted of various groups, each keeping to their own theme. A few to mention were, demands to settle human rights violations in Aceh, East Timor and Irian Jaya, by activists from the respective regions. Besides this, students were still clamoring for bringing Soeharto to trial, the abolution of ABRI's dual role, responsibility of ABRI (armed forces) leaders for the Trisakti and Semanggi Tragedies. The slow followup on these demands, have hardened the theme of a group of students, from total reformation into "revolution." Theatrical The roundabout of Hotel Indonesia filled up with demonstrators from 10.00 in the morning. Hundreds of laborers, becak drivers, the poor who called themselves Poor People of the City, came into action. Demonstrators in the front lines carried black colored dolls, resembling burned corpses of the May riots. Behind them followed hundreds of poor people clad in various traditional clothing. They started to move towards the Monas region and decorated the Ardjuna statue with the black dolls. After them followed the action of professionals, reporters, researchers, NGO activists, female activists, and various other groups. They too made an interesting scene. Two giant flowers made of red and black cloth were paraded by the colorful flag and banner waving crowd. Female activists were dressed in white and released assorted colored baloons in the air. After some time, thousands of Famred students appeared from a side road next to Plaza Indonesia mall. Behind a spear wielding group, students in orange jackets, armed with orange colored bamboo shields and phony rifles made of banana trunks, were leading the ranks. They moved slowly. The spear wielding troops advanced towards the barricade of Marines and Kostrad troops. However, unexpectedly, the car on which students were holding a speech followed by thousands students, moved around the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, right into the lines of the spear wielding demonstrators. Three lines of spear bearers repeatedly manoevred back and fro, thereby attracting the attention of the security troops. Suddenly, they fell on the ground before the troops which brought a smile on the faces of the soldiers. At the same time a huge crowd of students ran around the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in the direction of Jalan Thamrin. The troops scurried after them to quickly form a line. The spear bearers made once more a hilarious move. They dropped themselves to the ground and crawled towards the troops. That was the time, when the crowd of students, running at the right, broke through the security line. Thousands of students stormed through the gap in the barricade. Security troops could not help laughing when they discovered that students had tricked them. The public, however, admired the tricks of the students which they expressed with screams of delight and applause. On the way to the United Nations Building, a number of students approached the professional group which stood before the office, they held speeches and urged them to sing reformation songs. In front of the United Nations Building more speeches were held. Some time after that, a number of farmers belonging to the Association of West Java Farmers, held an installation act before students. Standing on a makeshift plot of land on which was written "Land for the People", the farmers started to plant rice. Some housewifes in sarong and kebaya (traditional blouse) accompanied the farmers with the beating sounds from paddy stampers. Heavy rain did not drain their enthusiasm. Then, all of a sudden, military trucks appeared from the direction of Monas. Hundreds of students and citizens spontaneously chased the trucks away. The students circled around toward Hotel Indonesia, for fear that a clash might happen. On their way they met other groups, as the Aliansi Aksi Rakyat Menggugat (Alarm), Forbes, Trisakti students, en FKSMJ. The Forbes students deployed many busses and mini vans, private cars and motorbikes. They cruised safely along Imam Bonjol Road, then drove into Sudirman with the intention to go to Parliament Building. The massive crowd of students and people, moved into the course of Semanggi bridge. In front of Atma Jaya University, students scattered flowers. The Famred students entered Atmajaya campus, while others went on demonstrating until the night. Small incident At the Banteng Square around 1.500 people of the Islam Committee for Human Rights (KIP HAM), were holding a free forum right in front of the Department of Religion. KIP HAM stated that the nation was in danger of serious threats from anti-Islam groups. After the KIP HAM group had issued their warning, students of the Student Action and People for Human Rights (Amarah) assembled in front of Hotel Borobudur. They were immediately stopped by security troops who foiled their plan to go to the Palace. Two armored cars were ready. When the troops had made a line in front of the trucks, students up front tried to push their way through the human barricade. The incident died down at once when student coordinators calmed the public. Not long after that, a shuffle started again when an instigator was caught hitting the hand of one of the students. Students caught the white t-shirted instigator and started to hit him. Security troops appeared on the scene which sent the students off in the direction of the Foreign Ministry. Security troops held them back, however, later four armored cars were called in. The instigator was saved by security men and driven away in a military truck. Parliament building A massive crowd of students who joined the Communication Forum of the Student Senate in Jakarta (FKSMJ) tried to enter Parliament Building. They drove on the toll road, whereby the toll road had to be closed for the public. Beside the Manggala Wanabakti Building, they jumped outside the toll road and gathered at the crossroad toward Grogol and Pondok Indah. Here, they were held up. As the students sat down on the road, a convoy of military cars carrying one company of the Jaya Military District Commando and tried to disperse the student crowd. When the trucks were approaching, students stretched themselves fully on the road. The convoy stopped in front of them. The commander got out of his car and started to talk with the students. The cars turned around after that and drove away in the direction of Cawang. After spending some time on that location, the students went to Semanggi and joined their friends at the roundabout of Hotel Indonesia. Another convoy of students, the Student Forum of Rawamangun (Formara), appeared from the Grogol area in five buses. The Fomara group stopped about one kilometer from the assembling location of the FKSMJ students. There they grouped together and started discussions among themselves. Meanwhile, another crowd of students who joined Forum Kota, also went up to Parliament Building. They too were cut short by riot police in front of Police Headquarters. A small incident occurred when the crowd started to push and threw with bottles of mineral water. Two students were injured in the act. Students were then allowed to resume their trip, but were again stopped by a barricade of security troops under the flyover of Taman Ria. There they held on until 21.00 before splitting up in the evening. ********************************************************** Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) PO Box 458, Broadway NSW 2007 Australia Phone: 61-(0)2-96901230 Fax : 61-(0)2-96901381 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WWW : http://www.peg.apc.org/~asiet/ Free Xanana Gusmao, Budiman Sujatmiko and Dita Sari! Free all political prisoners in Indonesia and East Timor! ********************************************************** ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 12 Feb 1999 jam 10:08:07 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
