ABRI calls on students to end protests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto has urged university students and other
\ngovernment critics to end their protests.<\/p>\n
The four-star general said yesterday the new government should
\nbe given a chance to restore the country's economy and politics;
\nit would not be able to do any work if protests continued to
\ndisrupt the country.<\/p>\n
He said the students should return to their campuses and
\nconcentrate on their studies. He assured them that their protests
\nhad been heard and fully understood by the government.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the students end their massive actions and return to
\ntheir campuses because studying is their main duty,\" Wiranto said
\nafter accompanying President B.J. Habibie in announcing the new
\ncabinet lineup at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Asked about the massive show of military troops on the streets
\nof Jakarta and other cities, Wiranto said: \"Ask them, ask the
\nundisciplined people when they will stop their demonstrations
\nbecause I am not a demonstrator and not a demonstration leader\".<\/p>\n
Thousands of students took over the House of Representatives
\nearlier this week to demand President Soeharto's resignation.
\nThey are now standing firm with fresh demands that Habibie
\nresign.<\/p>\n
Similar demonstrations have also taken place in other cities.<\/p>\n
\"If such a situation continues, when can we develop (the
\ncountry)?\" Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
The general also strongly rejected the students' mounting
\ndemands to take Soeharto to court for alleged corruption and
\nabuses of power.<\/p>\n
He said the demand was only voiced by a few small groups --
\n\"some 10 or 20 people\" -- and did not represent the majority.<\/p>\n
\"What about the stance of the other 200 million people? We
\nmust realize this,\" Wiranto remarked.<\/p>\n
\"People are free to talk, but we need to filter everything;
\nwhether something is proper or not, realistic or not, and not
\njust accept whatever is said.\"<\/p>\n
Similar calls to students were made yesterday by leaders of
\nthe Armed Forces (ABRI) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nfactions at the House of Representatives. Hari Sabarno of the
\nABRI faction said the House appreciated the students' actions in
\nconveying their messages for reform, but it should now be given
\nthe opportunity to resume its normal activities.<\/p>\n
\"I suggest that the students leave the House's premises to
\ngive us a chance to work to realize the desired reforms. If they
\ncontinue to stage rallies on the House's grounds, it will be
\ndifficult for the House to carry out its tasks,\" Sabarno said.<\/p>\n
Sabarno made the statement following a meeting between House
\ndeputy speakers Syarwan Hamid and Abdul Gafur with a delegation
\nof the Students Action Front for Reformation (KAMURRI) led by
\nAchmad Tjahya.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the tiny PDI House faction, Budi Hardjono,
\nalso urged students to leave the House compound to avoid further
\nclashes between anti- and progovernment groups.<\/p>\n
\"Reforms can not be achieved only through comments, shouting,
\nspeeches and agitations like what we see now,\" Antara quoted Budi
\nas saying. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abri-calls-on-students-to-end-protests-1447893297",
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