ABRI holds dialog with youth leaders

JAKARTA (JP): Amid strong rejection by university students over a military-sponsored dialog, Armed Forces (ABRI) chief Gen. Wiranto opened a dialog with leaders of 32 youth organizations Saturday.

The dialog, co-organized by the office of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Armed Forces headquarters, discussed various issues which had repeatedly been aired by the students: sweeping economical and political reforms and the establishment of clean and credible governance.

"There should not be any discrepancy among elements of the nation, including its youths and its students, in viewing the monetary crisis and seeking solutions for the nation's survival," Wiranto said when opening the dialog.

"Just as if we (the nation) were sailing an ocean of crisis, we have to maintain unity to weather the huge waves.

"We (the government) need everybody's wisdom, patience and trust because we are serious in our commitment to bring the nation out of the crisis," he said.

Seventy-nine people representing the 32 organizations under the umbrella of the Indonesian National Youth Committee attended Saturday's dialog.

The Armed Forces chief called on all elements of society to share opinions in an all-out effort to settle the crisis.

Wiranto said he would continue with his plan to hold dialogs with the students because the nation needs their input.

"Through dialogs, we can have a better understanding of our respective positions and visions on efforts to survive the crisis. This will create an extraordinary strength if synergized," he said.

However, he reiterated warnings that student rallies should not flow off campus, arguing that it would merely add to the already complicated situation.

Wiranto also reminded students not to turn to violence and infringe on social and legal norms when voicing their aspirations.

"There is no compromise against violent and unethical expressions for reforms by the students... university campuses are not an exclusive enclave exempted from the law," he warned.

He dismissed the possibility of sudden and radical reforms, saying that they would only create social and security disturbances.

Speaking of the strong military presence at several campuses each time students held a rally, Wiranto said they were there to prevent the students from being "contaminated" by irresponsible elements. He did not elaborate.

He claimed that the Armed Forces has already identified "a third party's" involvement in some student demonstrations. He declined to elaborate.

On Thursday, Wiranto insisted that a planned dialog with university students would be held sooner or later.

"Dialog with the students is not a matter of like or dislike, or want and not want. It must be held in a bid to forge a common perception of the prolonged economic crisis," he said.

A planned dialog with Wiranto organized by a group of former student leaders of the 1966 generation fell through last month after university students rejected the invitation.

On-campus rallies at various universities in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bandung in West Java, Medan in North Sumatra, Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi and Lampung and Padang in West Sumatra in the past two months have brought the specter of the student movement to the forefront.

Controversy

Despite being attended by organizations which are largely perceived to be supportive of the government, Saturday's dialog was still plagued by controversy because several youths due to attend came but refused to enter the meeting room.

"As an expression of solidarity with fellow university students who are not invited to this dialog, we have decided not to take part," Riza Primahendra, chairman of the Catholic Students Movement, told reporters at the Ministry of Youth Affairs' office lobby, where the dialog was held.

Riza, who only received an invitation to attend the dialog on Thursday, said the government should not have ignored the students' presence.

"We (students) are not part of the problems. We're part of the solution," he said.

During the dialog, Wiranto was accompanied by Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Armed Forces Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi, Chief of the Armed Forces' Intelligence Body Maj. Gen. Zacky Anwar Makarim and Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab Mokodongan.

Also present as observers were the rector of the state National Institute of Administration, Ryaas Rasyid, constitutional law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra and military analyst Salim Said.

In a related development, Central Java Governor Soewardi said Saturday that he would be willing to meet local students in a dialog if requested.

But he urged students to come as a single collective group.

"I am afraid that I won't have the time to meet all individual groups," he said.

Meanwhile, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid called on the government not to ignore the students' aspirations.

"They (students) might be amateurs. But they know the people's characters very well," he said. (aan/23/45/43/rms/imn)