• Underground in Jogjakarta with the PRD
Many other national PRD leaders remain free and operational, including Andi Arif, chairperson of SMID. Despite the hunt for him, he still is able to organise media interviews. In the national weekly magazine Gatra of 24 August an article on the rise of discussion groups and interest in Marxism in the university city of Jogjakarta began: "Andi Arif still speaks explosively." It goes on to quote him one month after the arrest order. "I'm still here in Yogyakarta, heh, quite secure you see." He had arranged the meeting with the joumalist somewhere in Jogjakarta and had safely got there "wearing a T-shirt with the word democracy on it, and a picture of a person holding up a red fist."
Arif confirmed to the journalist that student activists had indeed discussed Marxism, even communism, as a part of their studies. "Discussion about Marxism, the new left, was free on our campus. The vice-chancellor allowed us to study whatever we liked." The article went on to document how a number of activists involved in these discussions were later arrested and gaoled for circulating the books of the great Indonesian novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer.
Arif also told Gatra that SMID activists would not surrender. "We have issued instructions that SMID activists should not surrender. The government should follow the rule of law. Lets see them prove PROs involvement in the rioting. They shouldn't just be lashing out like this." Assisting the PRO's ongoing effurts to speak to the masses. Gatra also reported the statement sent to the press via Email from his hiciden headquarters by the head of the PRD's Propaganda department, I Gusti Anom Astika. Dont waste the sacrifices that have already been made in the struggle to restore the peoples so consolidate, produce leaflets.... continue the struggle!. sovereigry: Close ranks.
October 1996 #281 15
* Indonesia