ABRI can use 'repressive measures'

ABRI can use 'repressive measures'

SERANG, West Java (JP): President Soeharto gave clear-cut
guidelines yesterday for field security officials dealing with
unruly student demonstrations, including the use of "repressive
measures" in emergency situations.

In a written address for the 46th anniversary celebrations for
the Army's special force (Kopassus), the President said the
security apparatuses could use repressive measures if peaceful
persuasion failed to calm boisterous students.

"Security forces can apply repressive measures only in crisis
and emergency situations," Soeharto said in the address, which
was read by Kopassus' Commandant-General Maj. Gen. Muchdi
Purwopranjono.

But the President warned officials not to trespass the law
while containing the students, and reminded them that repressive
measures should be immediately followed up with acts to restore
the situation.

Nevertheless, it has been deemed unnecessary so far to deploy
Kopassus troops to engage with the students.

"The government hopes that the people, local officials and
police can maintain national security and order without Kopassus
troops' involvement," Soeharto said in the speech.

In the address, the President confirmed that the government
was and would always be serious in its commitment to restore the
country's economy, which was reeling from a prolonged monetary
crisis.

"The government is completely aware that the longer the crisis
goes, the worse the people will suffer."

He said the government was very grateful that a large part of
the nation could understand the problems that the country now
faced.

"Yet, there are some of us who are impatient and unable to
control their emotions during the crisis."

In another speech read at the ceremony, Army Chief of Staff
Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo reaffirmed Soeharto's view.

"They express their impatience and aspirations through student
demonstrations and other on-campus activities in several towns,"
he said.

While praising Kopassus for its excellent track record against
subversion, terrorism and other kinds of security disturbances,
the Army chief, however, reminded the troops not to become an
"exclusive" corps and distance themselves from the people.

Subagyo said the Armed Forces (ABRI) must maintain its unity
with the people.

"The people are not the enemy of the Armed Forces (ABRI)
because ABRI is the people's soldiers."

He called on Kopassus members and their families to maintain
their standing in the community in times of crisis.

"Kopassus members and their relatives must conform to a simple
and disciplined life."

Dialog

Separately, Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono told
journalists in Jakarta yesterday that university students should
come to him, instead of going to the education and culture
minister to express their demands for reform.

"If they talk about politics, they should come to me," he told
reporters at his office yesterday.

Constitutionally, the home affairs minister is the supervisor
of Indonesia's domestic political affairs.

Golkar official Abdul Gafur indicated yesterday that the
functional group would be ready to hold a dialog with students
and were not adverse to the students' demands as long as they
purely represented the interests of all people.

"We're ready for a dialog with the students," he told
reporters after seeing Hartono at the latter's office. "We will
support their actions if they represent the voice of the people."

Minister Hartono met with Gafur and, later, Armed Forces Chief
of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to
discuss the heightened level of student protests.

Gafur, who is also deputy speaker of the House of
Representatives (DPR), encouraged students to formulate a
tangible concept to help the country in its time of crisis,
before opening a dialog with senior officials.

"Golkar will be ready to meet them and challenge their concept
with ours," he said. "If their's is good we'll channel their
aspirations to the government." (imn)