Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 12:35:02 +0200
From: John Hutnyk <John.Hutnyk-AT-urz.uni-heidelberg.de>
Subject: AUT: Malaysia-Indonesia


>From Malaysian comrades:


A demonstration was held at 10.30 am Tuesday 19th May, in front of the
Indonesian Embassy in Kuala
Lumpur. The demonstration was a solidarity action with the democratic
forces in Indonesia. A mass
mobilisation throughout the country will be organised by a broad
coalition of opposition to commemorate
the Hari Kebangkitan Rakyat and press their demand for immediate
resignation of Suharto. 

The solidarity demonstration was attended by around 20 people composing
of students, opposition parties
and NGOs including PRM, DAP and Suaram. The protesters shouted "down
with Suharto" and other
slogans. 

The Embassy directed a few foreign workers and security guards to attack
the demonstrators. The posters
and placards of the demonstration were torn up by Embassy security.
Demonstrators were pulled, pushed
and shoved by the guards. However when the spokeperson began to read up
the statement, many
Indonesians cheered (especially enthusiastically when the call for
political prisoner Sri Bintang Pamungkas
to be free, and for Suharto to step down) and joined the demonstrations
and chanted along with the
Malaysian demonstrators. Some Indonesians even picked up the torn
placards on the ground and held
them in the air. 

Dr Syed Husin Ali, the president of PRM, who represented the protesters
requested a meeting with the
Indonesian Ambassador. Yet the request was turned down because according
to the Embassy staff, the
Ambassador was not in the Embassy. After much argument, a staff of the
embassy known who called
himself "Johan" accepted the memorandum but refused to officially sign
or receipt it. 

The protesters dispersed at 11.30 am with the note of "victory to the
Indonesian people"! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Other notes: A Malaysian student organisation will be protesting outside
the Embassy at 3:00 pm and
tomorrow morning, the Indonesian students in Malaysia will hold their
"Hari Kebangkitan Nasionalisma"
protest. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
19th May 1998 

MEMORANDUM TO THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT 

The people of Indonesia have risen! 

After 32 years of President Suharto's dictatorial rule, the suffering
people of Indonesia unite in one voice: Enough is enough! 

Since 1965, President Suharto's New Order regime has murdered at least
one million people from the tip of Sumatera in the
province of Acheh down to East Timor. Since 1965, President Suharto, his
family and his cronies have amassed billions of
dollars, stolen from the Indonesian people who are increasingly
impoverished and destitute. Since 1965, President Suharto and
his murderous regime has sought to crush all human rights, democratic
values and genuine peace that the Indonesian people
hold dear to. 

Until today. 

On 20th May 1998, the National Awakening Day (Hari Kebangkitan
Nasionalisma) will have a new meaning - a day where all
Indonesian people from all walks of life will gather and demand that
Indonesian is theirs and not the property of Suharto and his
regime. 

We express our solidarity with the Indonesian people and firmly support
their demands for genuine political changes.
Furthermore we also urge the following from the Indonesian government: 

1. Stop the killings of the Indonesian people! 

The military should not and cannot use violence to suppress the voices
of the Indonesian people. Already over 500 have
perished in the violence during riots and demonstrations. We urge that
there be no more loss of life and for the military to lay
down their guns, leave their tanks and join the people. 

2. Free all political prisoners! 

We urge the Indonesian government to free all political prisoners,
including Xanan Gusmao, Muchtar Papahan, Sri Bintang
Pamungkas, Budiman Sudjadmiko, Dita Indah Sari, Petrus Haryanto, Ratna
Sarumpaet, etc. 

We also urge the Indonesian government to release the numerous student
leaders who have been kidnapped by the Indonesian
military in connection with the March 1998 Presidential Election. 

3. President Suharto must resign! 

Genuine political reforms cannot begin unless President Suharto takes
responsibility for his actions in causing the deteriorating
state of the country. President Suharto has no choice but to listen to
the people and resign before a greater tragedy strikes
Indonesia and the region. 

During this momentous opportunity of great change, all peace-loving
Malaysian people stand firmly together with the Indonesian
people until they succeed. 

LONG LIVE SOLIDARITY BETWEEN THE STRUGGLING PEOPLE OF INDONESIA AND
MALAYSIA! 

VICTORY TO THE INDONESIAN PEOPLE! 



by: Malaysian Solidarity with the Indonesian People


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