Thousands of students from a number of universities took part in a demonstration outside the local assembly building in Banda Aceh denouncing President Habibie's visit to Aceh and calling for a referendum. They arrived at the assembly in convoys of vehicles.

The size of the demonstration swelled as many passers-by joined in the protest. The student demonstration was seen as a "show of force", to challenge the show of force mounted on the previous by the security forces who parading through the city on army vehicles in preparation for the president's visit (which is due on 26 March).

Students who addressed the demonstration stressed that Habibie was not welcome because his visit would not help resolve the problems confronted by the people of Aceh.

Syarifuddin, chair of the student senate of IAIN Ar-Raniry, also called on people not to attend Friday prayers at the Baiturrahman Mosque where Habibie will attend Friday prayers and hold a dialogue with the community. The students were urged to attend an alternative Friday prayer meeting at the Unsyiah campus followed by a sermon on holding a referendum.

Should any student take part in the dialogue with Habibie, it should be clearly understood that this person does not represent Acehnese students.

Another speaker said it was sacrilege for the president to use the mosque for political theatricals to advance his own election prospects.

One of the president's close advisers has admitted that Habibie is well aware that he will be confronted by student actions when he visits Aceh.

Meanwhile in Medan, dozens of students representing many colleges and universities have joined in setting up a Student Front in Support of a Referendum in Aceh. In a statement issued on 23 March, the Front described the problems confronting Aceh as being a compound of economic, legal, social and cultural issues. The conduct of the armed forces towards the people of Aceh which has resulted in a huge number of casualties inevitably led to a surge of support for independence among all sections of the population.

The Front also says that the issues confronting North Sumatra are different. It says that the provincial governor should immediately declare a transition and transform all state companies in the province into regional companies. If these demands are not met, it may well mean that North Sumatra will seek its freedom.

The students said that they would conduct further actions in the future in which a much larger number of students will participate.