By Max Lane
More student demonstrations calling for the ousting of President Suharto occurred across Indonesia last week.
Protest actions were held on university campuses in Jakarta and again on the University of Lampung and other smaller campuses in Lampung, South Sumatra.
About 2000 students rallied on March 26 at Padang Teachers College in West Sumatra to protest against the disappearance of nine students involved in earlier demonstrations at other universities. The protesters lowered the national flag to half-mast in remembrance of students who went missing from the University of Lampung last week, and from Surakarta University in the Central Java city of Solo on March 25.
At Surakarta University, 1000 students clashed with 300 police and troops outside the campus. Police fired tear gas and battled with the students, injuring at least 39. Ten security personnel were also injured as students threw stones at the military.
The clashes in Lampung and Solo occurred when the students attempted to march off the campuses to demonstrate their sentiments to the community.
The new militancy among students has also been illustrated in their willingness to "detain" police and intelligence agents. The military have denied the existence of the plain-clothed agents, despite the fact that those detained by the students have carried intelligence identity cards. This anomaly was printed in the Indonesian press.
The military is trying different tactics to confine the protest activity to campuses. The new minister for defence, armed forces commander in chief Wiranto, even offered a "dialogue" with the students in an attempt to divide the students between those who think it is possible to do deals with the army and those taking a non-cooperation stance.
While this tactic has always worked for the military in the past, this time almost all student groups, even the traditionally conservative religious-based groups, have refused to take up the offer, citing the military's repression and violence against the people. Student leaders boycotted a meeting called by the armed forces in Bandung on March 21.
In response to student hunger strikes begun on several campuses in recent weeks, the government has also banned this form of protest.
Last week, Lieutenant Colonel Imam Suwangsa of the Semarang police headquarters tried a new tack when he accused the Solo demonstrations of being "masterminded" by the People's Democratic Party (PRD).
Suwangsa was reported in the Suara Merdeka newspaper as saying that the police presence was large because there were signs of involvement by non-student elements: "There are indications that SMID (Students in Solidarity with Democracy in Indonesia), which is affiliated to the PRD, were behind the actions."
The Kompas newspaper reported on March 26 that Suwangsa said he had "data and evidence" on these people. "I am not just mouthing off", he said, "their files are back in my office".
Meanwhile, neither the police nor the military have made any further statements about the arrest of PRD leaders Mugianto, Nesar Patria and Aan Rusdiantio on March 13 in Jakarta. There is no information on their current whereabouts.
The PRD headquarters in Java reports that around 60 activists from different groups disappeared on March 11, apparently picked up in the street or from their houses. None of these detentions have been announced by the authorities.
As well, students in Lampung report that 72 students who were detained briefly last week have been summoned to appear as witnesses in trials — trials for which there are no accused yet!
The students' committee set up to monitor arrests and injuries is still investigating reports that two students have been killed.
[Special appeal for Indonesia's underground activists, page 2.]