ABRI still working on dialog

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces is still working on the format for an effective dialog with students after its first offer to sit and talk out the youth's concern was rejected as unilaterally arranged.

"We are still looking for the best formulation of the dialog," the Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo H.S. said here yesterday.

Subagyo added the dialog is actually aimed to accommodate different opinions and to avoid misunderstandings.

The dialog between the students and the Armed Forces was initially scheduled to be held today at the YTKI building on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta.

"The dialog has been postponed due to technical reasons," according to Djusril Djusan, a former student activist who set the dialog's time and venue.

Djusril, who is also member of the House of Representatives from the ruling Golkar organization, denied the suggestion that the dialog was canceled due to the student's refusal.

As reported earlier, students from the country's top universities have snubbed the offer of a meeting with Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto and several cabinet ministers.

The students expressed concern that the format for the dialog had been prearranged by the military and pro-government groups; some also expressed suspicion the military's hidden agenda was to sow division among students and weaken them.

Many of students said they wanted to hold a dialog with President Soeharto instead.

Soeharto was quoted by Minister of Justice Muladi on Wednesday as saying that he was serious in his commitment to a dialog with students and instructed Muladi to make the necessary arrangements.

Soeharto said last week that he would gladly talk to the students, especially if they could offer suggestions on how to boost development.

President, however, suggested that the students should talk to relevant ministers and officials before meeting him. (emf/byg)