5 Died at Rally; Students Demand Govt Responsibility

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Students joining the street protest on Monday, October 28, demanded the government take responsibility for the death of five people during the rally at the DPR, Jakarta, last September. The head of the Student Executive Board at the University of Indonesia (BEM UI) Manik Margamahendra considered the five heroes for their courage.

"We demand all political elites be responsible for the deaths of our colleagues and relatives," said Manik in his speech on Jalan MH. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, Monday, October 28.

Five people were killed during the demonstration on September 24-30 in Jakarta and Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. They were students of Halu Oleo University, Immawan Randi and Yusuf Kardawi; a youngster from Tanah Abang, Maulana Suryadi; and two students, Akbar Alamsyah and Bagus Putra Mahendra.

They strived together to reject the passage of the revision of the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) Law and the Criminal Code Bill or RKUHP. The massive rally was also held in other cities, such as Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Kendari.

In coinciding with the Youth Pledge Day on Oct. 28, a joint mass of students and workers staged another rally titled #IndonesiaMemanggil. During his oration, Manik also highlighted that President Jokowi had not yet issued a government regulation in lieu of law or Perpu on KPK thus far.

Manik reminded Jokowi to be consistent with his vow to strengthen the KPK. "Corruption practice is this country’s problem. Even the KPK that is trusted by the public is weakened by the House and the government,” he said.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA