BK & LH/BI & LM, Jakarta – Hundreds of students gathered together in the Indonesian Youth Struggle Front (FPPI) have staged protests today in Yogyakarta and Jakarta against the Golkar party. They claim Golkar is responsible for massive human rights abuses, the current instability in Indonesia and is maneuvering itself into a dangerous position as a so-called 'opposition' party against the government of President Abdurrahman Wahid. Their demand: abolish Golkar.

The Golkar party dominated national politics together with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) under the New Order regime of disgraced former President Suharto. Nevertheless, through its extensive networks and ample financial resources, Golkar emerged as the second largest vote getter in the 1999 elections and a major force in the country's current political arena.

It is this newfound 'democratic' image that the pioneers of the reform movement, students, find most offensive and counterproductive. Today around 70 university students from the Indonesian Youth Struggle Front (FPPI) held a protest in front of the Governor's office complex in Yogyakarta.

With happening art performers depicting Golkar and Suharto as the oppressors of the people, they demanded Golkar be abolished and be held responsible for their political crimes during the 32 year reign of the Suharto regime. They also demanded the government to return disputed lands to peasants and to comprehensively reform the agrarian laws.

The protest in Yogyakarta startled members of the Women's Association (Dharma Wanita), affiliated to the Golkar party during the New Order regime, who were conducting a meeting inside the governor's office complex.

When the protesters started to move towards the office complex, demanding to meet the governor, they were stopped by the office security police who managed to shut the front gates. The students then continued their protest outside the office complex which seemed to frighten the Women's Association members. The shaken women hurriedly ended their meeting and left the complex via the rear exit. The meeting was attended by the governor's wife who, fearing for her safety, also left the complex via rear exit.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, the Indonesian Youth Struggle Front (FPPI) also protested at the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) building. Muhaji, FPPI secretary general and his deputy Syafiq Alielha, lead the demonstration. They claimed Golkar lay at the heart of every wickedness currently afflicting the people.

The interpellation motion recently brought to bear on the President by Golkar and others was described as means to create a crisis of confidence in the President for no other reason than to promote their narrow self interests. The notion of suggesting Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri to replace President Wahid would create a 'killing ground'.

On the topic of recent rumours that Golkar was planning to withdraw from the cabinet to become an opposition party, the students expressed distrust and a cynical attitude. "We would like to know what kind of opposition Golkar will become." Student opposition to Golkar has been growing in recent weeks as the party appears to be maneuvering into a confrontation with President Wahid and numerous party figures have been linked to a plethora of plots to destabilise the security situation in places such as Ambon. Last week, during the party's annual conference, hundreds of Golkar banners and flags decorating one of Jakarta's main roads were torn down by angry students and set on fire in front of the meeting hall.