Wiranto warns students not to leave campuses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) promised yesterday to
\ncontinue respecting student demonstrations, but warned that the
\nmilitary would not remain idle if the protests turned violent.<\/p>\n
ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto warned the students that they
\nshould not take to the streets because this could lead to
\ndestruction of property, in which case, the military would have
\nto act.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said he was willing to meet with the student leaders.<\/p>\n
"They'd better come and discuss their demands with us, rather
\nthan mobilize their masses," he said during a media briefing at
\nABRI headquarters on Jl. Merdeka Barat.<\/p>\n
There have been many spontaneous student protests on various
\nuniversity campuses across the country since the start of the
\nmonth. The students are demanding government action to lower food
\nprices and implement economic and political reform.<\/p>\n
Originally timed to coincide with the General Session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, the demonstrations continued on
\nseveral campuses yesterday even though the Assembly ended
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Most of these protests have been staged inside the campuses.
\nThere have been skirmishes with the police and military when
\nstudents attempted to take their protests outside.<\/p>\n
When asked for his view about these demonstrations, Wiranto
\nsaid they were acceptable and within the law.<\/p>\n
"Their demands are normal," he said, "ABRI will respect their
\ndemands as long as they are constructive to the efforts to solve
\nthe economic crisis."<\/p>\n
He said there were other more constructive ways than to
\nprotest by which students could channel their energy, such as
\nperforming good deeds for the people.<\/p>\n
On political reform, he said ABRI, which has 75 seats in the
\n1,000-strong House of Representatives, was just as committed as
\nthe students. "(But) ABRI is only committed to gradual, not
\ninstant and radical, reforms," he said. "Radical changes will
\nbring destruction and could lead to the nation's disintegration."<\/p>\n
In response to journalists' questions, Wiranto said his office
\nwas also open to any offers of dialog from government critics in
\na bid to solve the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
"We can arrange it. Why not?" he said.<\/p>\n
Journalists have proposed that the ABRI leadership meet with
\nprominent critics like Megawati Soekarnoputri, Abdurrahman Wahid
\nand Amien Rais, all of whom have criticized the government's
\nhandling of the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Wiranto said he agreed that dialog should be an integral part
\nof the efforts to settle the crisis, which he said must be the
\ntop priority for the new government.<\/p>\n
Separately, Army's chief spokesman Brig. Gen. Putu Rai said
\nyesterday that Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, currently commandant-
\ngeneral of the Army's special force (Kopassus), would be
\ninstalled as the Army's Strategic Reserves commander on March 20.<\/p>\n
Prabowo's appointment was announced last month but his move
\nwas delayed until after the MPR General Session.<\/p>\n
He replaces Lt. Gen. Soegiono who will be appointed deputy
\nArmy chief of staff on March 17, Putu told Antara.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Muchdi PR, currently Tanjungpura regional commander,
\nwill be appointed Kopassus commandant-general on March 24. (imn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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