Dozens of students from the Government Science Student Association (Himapem) of the Lambung Mangkurat University's Faculty of Social and Politics (FISIP) Thursday afternoon took to the streets to commemorate the riots on May 23, 1997 in Banjarmasin City.


The students wanted the "Gray Friday" tragedy that killed many people could be revealed and dragged intellectual actors to the court to be punished by legal sanctions.

"We young people must not forget history. This is a dark tragedy that must be revealed and the lessons for the future not to happen again," said Suwarni, one of the students who gave a speech at the Jalan Lambung Mangkurat intersection in Banjarmasin.

Students started the action with a long march from the KNPI Building to the intersection of four Post Offices on Jalan Lambung Mangkurat.

The action of conveying the aspirations of the concerns of the young intellectuals was running in an orderly manner escorted by officers from the Banjarmasin Police. It appears that a number of Policewomen have been deployed to provide humanitarian security, so that students who take action also feel comfortable and appreciated it.

The May 23, 1997 tragedy occurred during an open campaign of the Golkar Party. The election was the last held during the New Order period. 

Pewarta: Firman

Editor : Mahdani


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