Military sticks to plan on dialog with students<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\n(ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said yesterday he would continue
\nwith his plan to hold a dialog with students because the nation
\nneeded their inputs to the development process.<\/p>\n
The general said ABRI leaders, including commanders of
\nregional military commands and military regiments, had already
\nmet with students and talked to them as equal partners.<\/p>\n
\"Through dialogs we can have a better understanding of our
\nrespective positions and vision. This will create an
\nextraordinary strength if synergized,\" Wiranto said before
\nattending a monthly cabinet meeting on the economy at the Bina
\nGraha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Wiranto invited students across the country to Jakarta last
\nmonth to exchange views with him on the current economic crisis
\nand possible solutions.<\/p>\n
The students declined the offer and expressed suspicion over
\nwhat they claimed was ABRI's hidden agenda and unilaterally
\narranged format for the dialog. They also said they would prefer
\nto talk directly with President Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"The dialog has not been canceled or postponed. The dialog is
\nof national importance for mutual understanding,\" Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Minister of Justice Muladi praised students
\nyesterday for their brave criticism of the government. He said
\nthe government needed fresh ideas on how to resolve the country's
\neconomic crisis.<\/p>\n
However, Muladi, who is also rector of the state-run
\nDiponegoro University in Semarang, warned students not to touch
\non \"unconstitutional issues,\" such as demands to replace the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
\"If they demand political or economic reforms or the ending of
\ncorruption and collusion, I think that is okay,\" Muladi said
\nbefore the cabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
Muladi himself will hold a dialog with students on April 23 in
\nJakarta. The dialog was organized by the Association of
\nIndonesian Moslem Students (HMI) and will be held at the Youth
\nCenter in Kuningan, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
When asked whether security personnel were allowed to
\nintervene in on-campus demonstrations, Muladi replied: \"If the
\nrector is no longer able to control the situation and student
\nsafety and public security is endangered, security forces can
\nintervene\".<\/p>\n
At least five police officers and a dozen youths were wounded
\nwhen a 2,000 strong demonstration clashed violently with 500
\nsecurity personnel in Yogyakarta last week.<\/p>\n
Student leaders said police officers vandalized the student
\nhall after they chased protesters into the Gadjah Mada University
\ncampus.<\/p>\n
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Gen.
\n(ret) Feisal Tanjung said students had involved themselves in
\npolitics by raising the issue of reform.<\/p>\n
\"Student protests are a political maneuver because the
\nstudents are demanding political reform,\" Tanjung said before the
\ncabinet meeting.<\/p>\n
Separately, Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto
\nArismunandar reiterated his previous warning to students not to
\ntouch political issues when demonstrating.<\/p>\n
\"Universities are scientific institutions designed to maintain
\nand develop science, technology and the arts,\" Wiranto was quoted
\nby Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Students have been continuing with on-campus demonstrations in
\nbig cities, including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung in West Java,
\nMedan in North Sumatra, Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi, Lampung,
\nand Padang in West Sumatra. Protesters are demanding sweeping
\neconomic and political reform and clean government.<\/p>\n
Some of the demonstrations were marred by violence and
\nscuffles when students attempted to march onto the streets. (prb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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