Student protesters not embracing redicalism, say observers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Reports of violence, the large numbers attending
\nalmost daily demonstrations and demands like \"total reform\" have
\nraised questions about whether students have really become
\nradical. In a society brought up to appreciate stability, the
\nword is not at all comforting although everyone is clamoring for
\nprices to come down.<\/p>\n
Observers and former activists say that from indications
\nrevealed to date the students are not showing signs of
\nradicalism, an orientation toward fast and fundamental change.<\/p>\n
This, they say, is mainly because ideology is no longer an
\nissue compared to 1966 when students demanded the banning of the
\nIndonesian Communist Party (PKI).<\/p>\n
However they add further development depends a lot on the
\ngovernment's response to demands.<\/p>\n
\"Pay attention to the key word: reform,\" says Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja, a former chairman of the Bandung Institute of
\nTechnology (ITB) student council and one of the \"1966 Generation\"
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
\"Students are only demanding that leaders reform themselves
\nmorally, to stop corruption, nepotism and collusion. No one has
\ntinkered with Pancasila ideology or the 1945 Constitution.\"<\/p>\n
Islamic scholar Nurcholis Madjid, former chairman of the
\nAssociation of Moslem Students, said student actions now center
\non economic and political reforms.<\/p>\n
\"In 1966, student movements easily became radical because they
\nwere confronted with the atheist PKI,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But now, everybody has the same ideology, Pancasila. Moreover,
\nhe said, students have yet to unite in wanting either gradual or
\nimmediate, total reform. Such a situation makes it hard for
\nradicalism to emerge, he said.<\/p>\n
Riswandha Imawan, a political scientist from Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity in Yogyakarta, shared Nurcholis' view but warned that
\nstudents could eventually get radical if the authorities
\nresponded to their protests repressively.<\/p>\n
Sarwono and Jumhur Hidayat, also a former activist at ITB,
\nalso remarked that a violent response would only beget more
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
Jumhur was expelled from ITB in 1989 by rector Wiranto
\nArismunandar (currently minister of education and culture) for
\nleading a protest against the then visiting minister of home
\naffairs Rudini to the campus. He and five other students served
\nfour years in jail.<\/p>\n
Common<\/p>\n
Now the executive director of the Center for Information and
\nDevelopment Studies, Jumhur said students could not be blamed if
\nthey turned violent.<\/p>\n
\"They see in their daily lives that violence is commonly
\npursued by our police and military personnel.<\/p>\n
\"I believe students would behave in a more friendly manner if
\ntreated more humanely. Just allow them to organize their
\ndemonstrations.\"<\/p>\n
But like other observers he warned, \"Their actions could
\nescalate if the government does not pursue the reforms,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Arbi Sanit from the University of Indonesia also said
\nrepressive measures would only unite student movements across the
\ncountry, which have so far surfaced almost simultaneously without
\ncoordination.<\/p>\n
Besides feeling they must be a moral force, the professor said
\nstudents are also affected directly. Many are finding it
\ndifficult to pay tuition fees, he said, and could not afford to
\nbuy books and pay for photocopying.<\/p>\n
Observers and former activists say it won't be only students
\nyelling on the streets if the public becomes convinced that no
\nimprovement is in sight.<\/p>\n
\"We might see hundreds of thousands of people on the streets,
\nbut I don't know when,\" said Sarwono.<\/p>\n
Even without physical violence, Arbi said, \"I'm sure that
\ndemonstrations will get bigger and be joined by many parties,
\nonce all interests are affected.\" (team)<\/p>",
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