ABRI calls on students to end protests

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto has urged university students and other government critics to end their protests.

The four-star general said yesterday the new government should be given a chance to restore the country's economy and politics; it would not be able to do any work if protests continued to disrupt the country.

He said the students should return to their campuses and concentrate on their studies. He assured them that their protests had been heard and fully understood by the government.

"I hope the students end their massive actions and return to their campuses because studying is their main duty," Wiranto said after accompanying President B.J. Habibie in announcing the new cabinet lineup at Merdeka Palace.

Asked about the massive show of military troops on the streets of Jakarta and other cities, Wiranto said: "Ask them, ask the undisciplined people when they will stop their demonstrations because I am not a demonstrator and not a demonstration leader".

Thousands of students took over the House of Representatives earlier this week to demand President Soeharto's resignation. They are now standing firm with fresh demands that Habibie resign.

Similar demonstrations have also taken place in other cities.

"If such a situation continues, when can we develop (the country)?" Wiranto said.

The general also strongly rejected the students' mounting demands to take Soeharto to court for alleged corruption and abuses of power.

He said the demand was only voiced by a few small groups -- "some 10 or 20 people" -- and did not represent the majority.

"What about the stance of the other 200 million people? We must realize this," Wiranto remarked.

"People are free to talk, but we need to filter everything; whether something is proper or not, realistic or not, and not just accept whatever is said."

Similar calls to students were made yesterday by leaders of the Armed Forces (ABRI) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) factions at the House of Representatives. Hari Sabarno of the ABRI faction said the House appreciated the students' actions in conveying their messages for reform, but it should now be given the opportunity to resume its normal activities.

"I suggest that the students leave the House's premises to give us a chance to work to realize the desired reforms. If they continue to stage rallies on the House's grounds, it will be difficult for the House to carry out its tasks," Sabarno said.

Sabarno made the statement following a meeting between House deputy speakers Syarwan Hamid and Abdul Gafur with a delegation of the Students Action Front for Reformation (KAMURRI) led by Achmad Tjahya.

The chairman of the tiny PDI House faction, Budi Hardjono, also urged students to leave the House compound to avoid further clashes between anti- and progovernment groups.

"Reforms can not be achieved only through comments, shouting, speeches and agitations like what we see now," Antara quoted Budi as saying. (prb)