Around 300 students staged a sit-in protest at central Jakarta's prominent Welcome Monument yesterday, accusing political parties of failing to push harder for democratic reforms.

The monument where the students mounted their banners had been used repeatedly by election campaigners in the past three weeks to erect party flags. he protesters recited chants calling on former President Suharto to face trial.

They also urged the parties contesting tomorrow's historic election to meet demands that were made by the country's student movement, which preceded Mr Suharto's fall in May last year.

"Many parties say they are reformist, but they do not follow the reform demands put out by the students," said 22-year-old Novri Helmanwan. dozen riot police officers sat nearby but did not intervene in the demonstration.

The protesters' demands included an end to the military's role in politics and greater regional autonomy.