Jakarta – Hundreds of students and civilians on Monday staged two separate street protests here to demand that the Indonesian military end its law-accorded involvement in the country's politics, witnesses said Some 300 students from various universities converged on the parliament in central Jakarta to demand that the military's "dual function" be revoked.

The dual function concept refers to the role of the military in the country's socio-political life in addition to its more traditional role in the defence of the country. "Reject Militarism," said one large red banner carried by the protestors. "People Unite, Revoke ABRI's Dual Function," and "Civilian postings are for civilians, not for ABRI," others read. "Just go back to your barracks," another poster carried by the group which called itself the People's Coalition for Anti-Dual Function Strategy, whose acronym, Kostrad, is also the name of the army's elite command. Some of the demonstrators who had been blocked by soldiers and police some 300 metres before the parliament's entrance, scuffled with security forces before they were finally allowed to proceed towards the parliament's front entrance.

Meanwhile, a separate group of some 40 protestors from the Executives for Reform groups staged their own protest against the military's dual function at a busy roundabout in central Jakarta. "The barracks are more honorable that the political stage," said one of the posters, while others read: "Clean ABRI from the state security," "Best for the people, Best for ABRI," and "Let us get away from Dual-function."

A huge banner some five metres (yards) long read "Happy birthday ABRI – Stop your domination." The protestors, some with their faces painted in bright red and white squares, also carried papier-mache skulls at the tip of sticks as they marched along a busy avenue towards the armed forces headquarters about two kilometres (a mile) north. Some 150 armed soldiers and scores of stick-wielding policemen were deployed at the roundabout and followed the demonstrators as they began their march. The demonstrators were then turned back towards the roundabout, an AFP reporter said, adding that no clashes occurred.

The military, which Monday celebrated its anniversary with a low scale commemoration at the ABRI headquarters, has said it is reviewing its controversial role in the country's political life. The political role has translated into the prevalence of active and retired military officers in key government posts, the legislature and the judiciary as well as in mass organisations and in business.