'Zimbabwe's Suharto must go'

'Zimbabwe's Suharto must go'

By Norm Dixon

Inspired by the fall of Indonesian dictator Suharto, thousands of student demonstrators on May 28 marched through the streets of the capital, Harare, to demand the resignation of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe and an increase in allowances. They chanted "Zimbabwe's Suharto must go".

Students emulated the actions of the Jakarta students and began a sit-in outside parliament until Mugabe or education minister Ignatious Chombo addressed them. Student leaders warned that Zimbabwe would become "another Indonesia" if the government did not give in to their demands for a end to corruption.

On May 29, the 2000 protesters who had stayed overnight were dispersed violently by riot police using tear gas and riot sticks.

From GLW issue 320