Military chief scoffs at students' separatism bid<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): After choosing to keep out of
\nthe debate in the past two weeks, the military declared on Monday
\nits opposition to local students' calls for an independent state.<\/p>\n
Addressing provincial legislators, community leaders and
\nstudent representatives, chief of the Wirabuana Military Command
\noverseeing Sulawesi Maj. Gen. Suaidy Marasabessy labeled the
\ndemand \"irrational\".<\/p>\n
\"The demand is absurd because the province possesses limited
\nnatural resources compared to other provinces,\" Suaidy said.<\/p>\n
\"Never speak about independence because implementing a federal
\nsystem in the country will be too risky for South Sulawesi as the
\nprovince lacks adequate natural and human resources,\" Suaidy
\nadded.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi is second only to East Nusa Tenggara on the
\nlist of provinces receiving the largest government subsidies.<\/p>\n
\"South Sulawesi manages only to contribute about Rp 1 billion
\nin regional revenue to the central government, far below natural
\nresource-rich provinces like East Kalimantan which can gain tens
\nof billion of rupiah in revenue,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"So why bother protesting? East Kalimantan is a more deserving
\nprovince to demand a federal state, but its people have opted to
\nmaintain unity.\"<\/p>\n
Despite his criticism of their separatist yearnings, Suaidy
\npraised the students for fighting for justice.<\/p>\n
But the hearing descended into a heated debate between Suaidy
\nand two student representatives who accused him of imposing his
\nargument upon them.<\/p>\n
\"You cannot conclude that the majority of South Sulawesi's
\npeople do not opt for freedom merely because legislators here are
\nnot supportive of our movement. They merely voice their personal
\nopinions,\" said student Syamsuddin.<\/p>\n
Suaidy appeared annoyed by the statement.<\/p>\n
\"We have been very patient in dealing with you (students). We
\ndid not take punitive measures when you tore the national flag,\"
\nSuady retorted.<\/p>\n
Security authorities have completed the identification of
\nstudents believed to have been involved in tearing down a
\nnational flag and burning a public bus on Friday, Suaidy said.<\/p>\n
Almost daily student rallies demanding an independent state
\nhave been held in Makassar, formerly known as Ujungpandang, after
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly rejected then president B.J.
\nHabibie's accountability speech two weeks ago. The rejection
\nessentially killed the reelection bid of Habibie, a Sulawesi
\nnative and revered figure in the province. (27\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-chief-scoffs-at-students-separatism-bid-1447893297",
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