Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day, which falls Friday, hundreds of university students in Makassar staged rallies on Thursday, demanding that the government take serious action against corruption.
The rallies were held sporadically on several university campuses. Students of the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI), State Islamic University (UIN) Alauddin and Makassar Muhammadiyah University and members of the Association of Muslim University Students (HMI) Makassar were among the protesters. HMI staged a rally in front of the provincial legislative building. Protesters also gathered under the Makassar flyover.
"Corruption has become more and more rampant, and involves members of the second United Indonesia Cabinet. Yet, none of them has undergone legal processing," HMI coordinator Abdul Rahman Alwi said.
Most of the protesters condemned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono for what they said was a failure in their fight against corruption, which was the cornerstone of their election campaign.
They said that many corruption cases had caused massive state losses but had not been investigated.
They cited the cases of the central bank liquidity fund (BLBI), the Bank Century bailout, the SEA Games athletes' village, and corruption at the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry that reportedly implicates minister Muhaimin Iskandar and Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo.
"So far only Nazaruddin has been tried for the athletes' village corruption case even though a number of officials have been mentioned in testimonies. Government officials seem to be well protected," Rahman said.
They urged law institutions ranging from the police, prosecutors' offices, the court and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to work more seriously in their fights against corruption.
They also demanded that corruption suspects, especially state officials, be arrested, tried and if convicted, that their fortunes be seized and made to benefit the people.
They promised that they would ensure the newly elected KPK chairman to prove his commitment to thoroughly process major corruption cases in his first year with the commission.
They said they would return to the streets with bigger rallies on Friday to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day.
The Makassar Police said they were ready to deploy 2,600 joint personnel to safeguard the rallies on Friday.