Students Who Died In The '98 Reform Movement Proposed To Become National Heroes

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JAKARTA - The Trisakti Brotherhood Association (PAPERTI) 98 proposed that students who died in the Reformation Movement deserve to be awarded the title of the national hero. They are considered meritorious because they gave birth to a new political era, namely civil supremacy and the rule of law.

Chairman of PAPERTI 98 Iwan Kurniawan said that the 1997-1998 reform movement had changed the history of Indonesia. It not only ended the power of a New Order regime but also gave birth to a new landscape of democratic Indonesian politics.

"An order that is intended to be free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism, a new political era in which the supremacy of civil power and the rule of law is upheld. In this era, a new Indonesia where the ideals of the proclamation are to be authentically re-realized", said Iwan in his statement in Jakarta, Thursday, November 11.

According to him, the Reformation Movement was initiated by student activists. The real idea went beyond the debate about the nature of the student movement in the dichotomy as a moral movement or a political movement.

Iwan invites the public to reminisce about the history of the Indonesian nation, namely the role of students is very vital, since the era of the movement in 1908, 1928, 1945, 1966, and 1998, the movement pioneered by students was able to bring about very basic changes.

"The Reformation Movement in 1998 killed four Trisakti University students, namely Elang Mulya Lesmana, Hafidhin Royan, Heri Hartanto, and Hendriawan Sie. They are the nation's warriors and milestones in welcoming the new era even though the case has not been revealed", he said.

He said that in Presidential Decree 057/PK/2005 dated August 15, 2005, the four students were designated as reform fighters for their great services to the Indonesian nation.

Secretary-General of PAPERTI 98 Saidu Solihin assessed that the services of the four reform fighters in the reform struggle were very vital, part of the thousands of students who took to the streets to oppose and fight the distorted power.

"The students who took to the streets represent the hopes of many other Indonesian students who want change. They want a new order that carries out the mandate according to the national ideals of the founding fathers of the nation", he said, quoted from Antara.

Saidu said for their roles and services, the four students deserved the title of National Hero.

He assessed that the spirit of the student movement that still exists today is clear evidence that the legacy of the spirit of the four fighters is still alive and well.

"They did not die in vain, they are still living with us to complete the ideals and agenda of reform", he said.

He hopes that the government can bestow the title of National Hero of Reformation for the four reform fighters and also must resolve the case of the death of the four reform fighters.

Saidu assessed that the blessing of the Reformation Movement had brought the Indonesian people into a democratic atmosphere, freedom of the press, association, assembly, and criticism of the government leadership.

However, according to him, all of these freedoms must be interpreted with full responsibility, and the process of struggle that has been achieved through the sacrifices of the predecessors and heroes of the Indonesian nation must be lived.