Irna G.W/SWA & LM, Jakarta – The high profile gathering of academics, community leaders and politicians taking part in the National Discussion Forum (FRN), currently being held at the Kartika Plaza Hotel, Denpasar, Bali were surprised by tens of students who staged a noisy protest. Their gripe, after knocking Suharto from his perch almost singlehandedly two years ago, the Forum had failed to include student leaders.
The 50-odd students came from the Joint Community of Bali Students association, which is based at Bali's Udayana University and Warma Dhewa University. They arrived at around midday today and held staged their protest right in front of the plenary room.
The students did not only protest the lack of involvement of youth and particularly university students but claimed that the Forum was only interested in compromise with President Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur as he is popularly known.
Their posters read: "Put Suharto on Trial", "FRN Don't Compromise With Gur Dur" and "Stop the Intergroup Conflict in Ambon," and many more. They also brought medium-sized red and white flag.
"We are disappointed because we are not involved in this forum. Aren't students part of the reform drive?" said Ngurah, one of the protesting students. He added that the FRN's job was to pay more attention to the real problems, such as suggesting how to resolve the conflict in Maluku, how to take Suharto to court, not forgetting the total reform agenda.
Wimar Witoelar, the moderator of the discussion forum, accepted and listened to the students' complaints. "Actually we had considered involving students in FRN. But we must admit that we had difficulty in finding the most appropriate representative figure. That is why the committee failed to invite students," Wimar calmly explained.
The high-profile gathering of prominent political figures, community and religious leaders and politicians at the posh Kartika Plaza has come in from criticism from many camps. On Friday, students from the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) staged a noisy protest on similar issues to the group today. The FRN was also roundly criticised by several of the speakers who were permitted to address the gathering.
The biggest complaint is that there are too many talk fests in Indonesia at the moment and not enough constructive action. Only time will reveal if this Forum will be successful in realising the high ideals espoused during the 3 days by the beach in Bali.