Jafar G. Bua, Palu – The arrest of student activists has not lessened the number of demonstrations. In an action today, Monday, around 1000 activists from the Central Sulawesi Poor People's Forum (Forum Rakyat Miskin Sulawesi Tengah, FRMST) demanded that President Megawati Sukarnoputri resign and proceeded to burn posters of Megawati. The posters of Megawati were burn in front of the Sulteng Military Police offices on Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin. "Reduce prices, overthrow Mega", they yelled while calling on the people to join in burning the posters.
Similar calls were made during an action held in front of the Sulteng local police headquarters on Jalan Sam Ratulangi, Palu. At the same time they held a long-march which started at 9.30am from Jalan Hasanuddin, Jalan Sudirman, then on to Jalan Sam Ratulangi. They then gathered at Jalan Sam Ratulangi because as well as the Sulteng police offices, the office of the Sulteng governor and regional parliament are located there.
During the action, the FRMST activists refereed to Megawati as an lackey of the IMF and Western imperialism. They stated that Megawati's policies, which protect the black conglomerates, show that her government does not side with the people. "Arrest the black conglomerates. Seize the assets of the black conglomerates" they shouted.
Wardah Hafidz and George Aditjondro
The action also involved around 100 rickshaw drivers and well well known activists such as Wardah Hafidz from the Urban Poor Consortium, George Aditjondro, and Jhonson Panjaitan from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.
Jhonson, when asked to speak, said that the government and the legislative institutions have already agreed to sell the assets and resources of the nation to foreign interests. The example being the divestment of Indosat.
Meanwhile in George's speech, he warned Megawati that previously here struggle was supported by pro-democracy activist. So it is very ironic that the Megawati government is now arresting pro-democracy activists. The ones that should be arrested are the black conglomerates and the bad debtors.
[Translated by James Balowski.]