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)