From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Indonesian students rally
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 05:04:18 GMT

/** reg.easttimor: 369.0 **/
** Topic: STUDENTS RALLY AT U.I., JAKARTA **
** Written  8:18 pm  Dec 10, 1992 by cscheiner in cdp:reg.easttimor **
From: Charles Scheiner <cscheiner>
Subject: STUDENTS RALLY AT U.I., JAKARTA

/* Written 12:31 pm  Dec 11, 1992 by indonow@peg.apc.org in igc:reg.indonesia */
/* ---------- "STUDENTS RALLY AT U.I., JAKARTA" ---------- */
STATEMENT ON OCCASION ON HUMAN RIGHTS DAY DEMONSTRATIONS IN
JAKARTA.
Statements released internationally by the coalition of student
groups, STUDENT SOLIDARITY FOR DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA [SMDI] .
[FAX: 61-2-7804170] Released in Australia by AKSI - Indonesia
Solidarity Action.
1.      JAKARTA STUDENT ACTIONS COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
Statement on the occasion of Human Rights rally on University of
Indonesia campus, Depok, 9 December. The rally was attended by
over 100 students. This is the first student rally at the
University of Indonesia for several years and signals the
re-awakening of U.I. students, who are now organising through a
number of new student organisations, mostly affiliated to the
SMDI. Speakers included representatives of students groups from
Jakarta, Bogor, Semarang, Malang and Solo. The speakers in
particular stressed opposition to the use of force to suppress the
increasingly frequent actions by workers, peasants and students.
[A demonstration in front of the Jogjakarta Provincial Parliament
was also planned for 10 December.  No news has reached
AKSI/INDONOW of this action as of AM 11 December.] Statement
Democracy and the guarantee of human rights are necessary
preconditions for the achievement of a better life for the people.
Students have proved that they can seize opportunities to play an
active role in giving real content to democracy and in upholding
human rights.  For students to play this vanguard role in an
optimum manner certain basic conditions of student life must
exist. Students must have freedom of expression and freedom to
organise. There must be the conditional right to think critically
and to be supported by an independent organisation that can
articulate the views of students in an open and democratic manner.
The banning of the student publication "Lentera" (published by
students from the Faculty of Letters University of Indonesia) in
August, 1990 and "Vokal" (published by Semarang Teachers College
students) in October, 1992 constitute evidence of the suppression
of the freedom of expression.  In addition there is far too much
interference by extra-student elements in student affairs. Indeed
even the demand for an independent organisation that can openly
and democratically express the opinions of students had been
responded to with violence and the arrest of activists. The
violent dispersal and arrest of students in Bandung, Semarang and
at the action of the National Independent Youth Solidarity
Committee in Yogya [on 26 October] are facts that are still fresh
in our memories.  With this bitter reality in mind as regards
student life in Indonesia, so we: Jakarta Student Action
Committee, hereby declare:
1.      Freedom of expression is a basic human right of students.
2.      Freedom of open forum should be guarantied.
3.      The upholding of the freedom of expression needs an
independent and democratic student organisation.
4.      Decisions affecting students should be based on the active
involvement and the aspirations of students.
***** declaration of the human rights committee [This declaration
was distributed at rallies on the University of Indonesia campus,
9 December and on Universitas Nasional campus on 10 December. ]
The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights announced on 10
December, 1948 represents the universal commitment by mankind in
dealing with the problems of humanity on this planet. Violence and
brutality arise in the form of the oppression of the strong over
the weak. Exploitation of human beings colours social life in such
a way that we see only the powerless of suffering. Such conditions
exist everywhere and in many countries, including in our beloved
country, INDONESIA.  Colonialism, in its outward form has been
expelled from Indonesia, but its "character, special features and
style" is more and more evident in so many aspects of life. The
country's national economic resources are in the grip of a tiny
clique of people, so that the chance of ordinary people having
equal access to these natural sources have begun a vane hope,
especially those not close to political power, namely the Sons and
Daughters of the President.  Democracy that is pronounced from
above is nothing more than cries becoming ever more cliched
reflection of a President's desire for the status quo. While at
the same time not a few people suffer behind bars because they had
called for change and had criticised the repressive system that
has continued for so long. The apparatus of the law which should
stand side by side with the people to uphold justice has become
instead the protector of corrupt power.  The expression of free
speech, free assembly and the putting forward of critical ideas is
seen as being subversive and an expression of opposition to
authority. The constitution can only interpreted from above with
many interpretations that always put constraints on the
implementation of human rights.  The political power of the day
has given birth to an authoritarian, neo-feudal leadership  whose
actions are also imbued with fascism. Centralised presidential
power determines everything. So defence of human rights is seen as
cause for suspicion rather than something that should be upheld.
Considering the above, we, the Student Committee for Human Rights
demand:
1.      The ending of the system of presidential power which has
lasted too long and become too authoritarian, because it
contradicts the civilised and just humanity that should be a part
of upholding human rights in Indonesia;
2.      That all repressive acts end, because freedom is the right
of all humankind;
3.      The repeal of the 1963 Subversion Law because it is not in
conformity with the principle of freedom guarantied in the
constitution; Jakarta, Indonesia, 10 December, 1992.
** End of text from cdp:reg.easttimor **

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