JP & Kompas on Human Rights Day demos
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* 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
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17 students injured in clash with security officers
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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
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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.
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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!
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