Gunawan Mashar, Jakarta – Scores of students in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar from the United Opposition (Front Oposisi Bersatu, BOB) have for the umpteenth time held a demonstration against military presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

On this occasion they gathered in front of the entrance of the Reformasi toll road on Friday June 4. The students burnt photographs of three presidential candidates, [former armed forces chief and Golkar Party candidate] Wiranto, [former coordinating minister for politics and security and Democratic Party candidate] Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and [incumbent President] Megawati Sukarnoputri.

The action took place at 10am local time with around 50 students listening to a series of “anti-military presidential candidates” speeches. Initially they gathered at the Reformasi toll road intersection but then moved to the middle of the entrance of the toll road. As a result, vehicles which wanted to enter the toll road were delayed and the number of vehicles around the location of the demonstration piled up.

As well as giving speeches the demonstrators repeatedly sang songs who’s lyrics appealed for the public to reject military candiates. A number of demonstrators also brought posters with the writing “reject the military”. Also visible among the demonstrators were those who were carrying photographs of the three presidential candidates who they believe are militaristic.

After giving speeches, the demonstrators then gathered up the photographs of the three presidential candidates which they burnt while shouting anti-military slogans. “We also burnt photographs of Megawati because she is just as repressive as the military”, said Rudi Harsono, one of the coordinators of the action during a speech.

BOB is a coalition of a number of student organisations including the Makassar National Student League for Democracy (LMND), Student Executive Councils from the faculty of literature and the faculty of maritime studies at the Hasannudin University (Unhas), the South Sulawesi People’s Democratic Party (PRD) and the South Sulawesi Indonesian National Labour Front for Struggle (FNPBI). (nrl)

[Translated by James Balowski.]