VARIOUS SHOTS OF STUDENTS MARCHING; POLICE.




Initials JSU/VS/CCT/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ON SATURDAY (22 JULY) HELD A HUGE ANTI-SUKARNO, ANTI-CORRUPTION MARCH IN DJAKARTA COINCIDING WITH GOVERNMENT MOVES TO PURGE OUSTED PRESIDENT SUKARNO'S SUPPORTERS FROM THE ARMY. ARMOURED CARS PATROLLED THE STREETS AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES WERE PUT IN POSITION NEAR ACTING PRESIDENT GENERAL SUHARTO'S HOME AS NEWS OF THE PLANNED ARMY PURGE WAS RELEASED.

THE INDONESIAN NEWS AGENCY, ANTARA, SAID THE PURGE ORDER WAS GIVEN TO MAJOR-GENERAL KEMAL IDRIS, COMMANDER OF THE STRATEGIC FORCES, AT A MEETING WITH GENERAL SUHARTO ON FRIDAY (21 JULY).

MEANWHILE STUDENT DEMONSTRATORS, WHO WARNED THAT SATURDAY'S DEMONSTRATION WAS THE FIRST STEP IN AN ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN, BROUGHT TRAFFIC TO A STANDSTILL IN BUSY CENTRAL DJAKARTA.

CARRYING SLOGANS LIKE "HANG THE CORRUPTERS" THE TEENAGE DEMONSTRATORS STRUNG OUT INTO A COLUMN SEVERAL MILES (KMS) LONG AFTER LEAVING A MASS RALLY ATTENDED BY ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE IN THE DJAKARTA UNIVERSITY FORECOURT.

EARLIER THEY PASSED A RESOLUTION, REPRESENTING THE SHARPEST STUDENT CRITICISM YET OF THE ACTING PRESIDENT'S RULE, WHICH CLAIMED INDONESIA WAS IN THE SAME SITUATION AS IT WAS UNDER PRESIDENT SUKARNO'S REGIME -- EXCEPT THAT IT WAS "MINUS SUKARNO".