ABRI and students relations dominated by distrust<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The relationship between the military and
\nstudents is currently marked by distrust and animosity.<\/p>\n
This situation is caused by the sluggish democratization, a
\ndiscussion entitled \"The Military, Students and the Problems of
\nDemocracy\" concluded.<\/p>\n
In the early years of the New Order administration, in the
\nmid-1960s, the Armed Forces (ABRI) and students had a good
\nrelationship. The two had a similar commitment to democracy and
\nwere instrumental in toppling the old regime.<\/p>\n
The honeymoon, however, did not last long and now the two no
\nlonger hold a similar view, was observed during the discussion,
\nheld at a Surabaya University on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"The two used to help each other in fighting for people's
\naspirations. They had similar commitment to democracy and
\nfreedom,\" said Priyatmoko, a lecturer at Airlangga University's
\nSchool of Social and Political Sciences.<\/p>\n
\"Now that the power (of the military) has grown, the two view
\neach other with distrust and animosity,\" he said. \"Students want
\nthe Armed Forces' security approach to be abandoned, while the
\nmilitary see current student movements as a threat to national
\nstability.\"<\/p>\n
Priyatmoko blamed society for its fear of differences and for
\nlack of communication, which he named \"an absolute for
\ndemocracy\". \"The military use of security approach aggravates the
\npoor relationship,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The other speakers in the discussion were Riswandha Imawan,
\npolitical scientist at the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity, Maj. Gen. Syamsul Huda, from the Institute of
\nNational Resilience, a military think-tank, and Edy Faishal
\nMuttaqin, a student activist.<\/p>\n
Edy endorsed Priyatmoko's statement, saying the ABRI have not
\nbeen fair in dealing with student movements.<\/p>\n
\"It took the military four months of 'persuasive approach'
\nbefore finally launching an operation to free the hostages held
\nby the rebel Free Papua Movement in Irian Jaya,\" he said. \"But
\nthe Armed Forces took an excessively harsh action against the
\nstudent demonstration in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.\"<\/p>\n
Three students died in April when students protested against
\nminibus fare increase. The military forced their way into
\ncampuses and chased students with rattan sticks, injuring a
\nnumber of them.<\/p>\n
Riswandha blamed the poor relationship between the ABRI and
\nthe students on the lack of access to accurate information and
\nabsence of venues through which the students can express their
\nopinions.<\/p>\n
He also blamed it on the lack of public discourses which are
\nfree from government intervention, and the \"fair rotation of
\npower\".<\/p>\n
Syamsul agreed about the need for a dialog to improve the
\nrelationship between the Armed Forces and the students. \"With the
\nhelp of discussions we can examine issues which may endanger
\nnational stability and unity,\" he said. (15\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abri-and-students-relations-dominated-by-distrust-1447893297",
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