Thousands of Yogyakartans hold "people`s assembly"

Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - Some 15,000 Yogyakarta residents held a "people`s assembly" in the compound of the provincial legislative assembly (DPRD) on Tuesday to express their rejection of a Bill on Yogyakarta`s Special Status which they said did not reflect their aspirations.

Attended by members and sympathizers of 71 local people`s organizations or professional groups , the assembly was led by Mulyadi, chairman of Ismaya, the association of all-Yogyakarta village heads.

Among the local people`s organizations were the associations of fruit traders, of market traders, of village administration personnel, farmers and non-governmental organizations from the districts of Gunungkidul, Bantul, Kulonprogo and Sleman as well as the municipality of Yogyakarta.

A stage was set up in the eastern part of the venue from where speakers addressed the audience.

Besides rejecting the bill, the people also urged the local legislative assembly to soon hold a special plenary session to make a political decision to meet the local people`s aspirations.

"We ask the central government to soon issue a legal decision to provide legal certainty for the future of Yogyakarta based on the state ideology of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, President Soekarno`s Charter and the mandate of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX and Paku Alam VIII issued in the n September 5, 1945 Declaration," Mulyadi said.

They also demanded the province`s status in the Unitary State of Indonesia to be maintained by declaring Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Paku Alam as Yogyakarta governor and vice governor respectively.

The results of the assembly would be handed to the central government, the House of Representatives and the Provincial Legislative Assembly.

Hundreds of policemen guarded the legislative assembly building. Some water cannons were also deployed to the location. (*) end