Calls mount for Habibie and Wiranto to step down

Calls mount for Habibie and Wiranto to step down

JAKARTA (JP): The outpouring of shock, condemnation and
condolences continued on Sunday over the bloody clash on Friday
which claimed at least 15 lives and left hundreds injured.

All organizations and political groupings which relayed their
statements to The Jakarta Post were united in expressing full
support for the student movement seeking overall reform and
democracy. They also demanded that justice be served in the
brutal acts committed from Nov. 10 to Nov. 13 during the Special
Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

They differed on what actions should be taken against
government officials held responsible for the deaths.

Some groups demanded that President B.J. Habibie, Armed Forces
chief Gen. Wiranto and Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung resign immediately over what they
considered barbarous acts against protesters.

Several others asserted total rejection of the decrees adopted
by the MPR and demanded the establishment of a provisional MPR.

The Moslem Community Party, led by Deliar Noer, and the
National Movement for Justice and National Unity, coordinated by
Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, also deplored Habibie's instruction on
Saturday for Wiranto to take whatever action necessary to deal
with what he termed acts of rebellion to topple his government.

However, the Indonesian Moslem Forum, led by Hartono Mardjono,
expressed full support of government actions in dealing with what
it considered acts of anarchy toward the legal government and MPR
decrees.

The following are summaries of some of the statements:

Indonesian People's Party: Habibie and Feisal Tanjung must
resign immediately and must be investigated to ascertain their
role in the repressive acts which caused the Friday tragedy.
Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen Noegroho Djayoesman and Jakarta
Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djaja Soeparman must be dismissed
immediately and brought before military tribunals. The onus is on
Gen. Wiranto, although responsible for the tragedy, to prove
whether or not he was directly responsible for giving orders for
the repressive measures.

The MPR membership must be reshuffled to bring in
representatives of pro-reform organizations and political parties
and this new Assembly convene a second Special Session.

The Jakarta National Institute of Science and Technology:
Habibie must resign immediately to prevent a civil war and
Wiranto give an account of the tragedy, setting up investigations
and dealing firmly with those responsible for the violent acts.
The military's sociopolitical role must be stopped immediately.

Moslem Community Party: The military's sociopolitical role
must be stopped immediately and Wiranto resign. Habibie's
instruction to Wiranto to take whatever action necessary to deal
with acts of rebellion is deplorable. The President should act
wisely and prudently as a true leader, and not as an
authoritarian one, in dealing with the current grave problem.

The National Labor Party: The MPR decrees must be rejected and
Habibie resign immediately. Wiranto and National Police chief Lt.
Gen. Roesmanhadi should be brought before military tribunals.

Leather, Textile and Clothing Trade Union: The President and
Wiranto should give accountability on the tragedy to ensure that
last week's brutal acts of security personnel will not recur.
Otherwise, there should be a national strike and solidarity on
the part of international trade unions to boycott trade with
Indonesia.

People's Coalition Against Militarism: Rejects the decrees of
MPR. President Habibie and Wiranto must resign, a new
transitional government established and the MPR apologize to the
people for failure to meet their aspirations.

The Federation of All Indonesian Trade Unions:Immediate
investigations should be conducted into the tragedy and firm
actions taken against those responsible. Former president
Soeharto, his family members and cronies should be tried as a
prerequisite to developing a clean, credible government.

Indonesia Education and Legal Aid Foundation: President
Habibie and Wiranto must provide political and legal
accountability over the tragedy.

The National Movement for Justice and National Unity: A
thorough investigation must be conducted into the tragedy and the
government, especially the Armed Forces, give reports of
accountability of the atrocities. The Armed Forces should be held
responsible for deploying civilian vigilantes against pro-reform
demonstrators. The acts of violence against the demonstrators
have negated the results of the MPR Special Session, which were
actually fairly responsive to the people's aspirations.

Indonesian Students Parliament: The brutal acts of the security
personnel are to be condemned. Equally contemptible is MPR
Speaker Harmoko, who smilingly and enthusiastically chaired the
final session while thousands of students and members of the
public were showered by security personnel with a barrage of
bullets only a short distance from the Assembly building.

United Development Party (PPP): The tragedy must be
investigated thoroughly and the government, notably security
apparatus, refrain from repressive acts. Warns "political
brokers" against pitting one group of people against another for
their vested interests. Calls on the people to remain united and
to guard against provocative acts that could destroy the
foundations of national unity and statehood.

Indonesian Bishops Council: Acts of oppression and brutality
against people must be stopped. Students, as the bearer of moral
force, should continue their fight for justice and all the people
should help restore national life to a humane, just, civilized
one that shuns any acts of violence, hatred and vengeance.

Indonesian Islamic Masyumi Party: All those responsible for
the riots and violent acts on Nov. 12 to Nov. 14 must receive
strict punishment. The five factions of the MPR failed to respond
fully to the people's aspirations, thereby setting off a wave of
street protest demonstrations. Habibie must appoint public
figures and leaders of mass organizations as his advisers in a
bid to enhance national reconciliation. Soeharto must be tried.

The Indonesian Moslem Forum: All acts of anarchy to topple the
legitimate government must be condemned. The MPR must be fully
supported. All Moslems should remain united and be alert to
provocative acts. All people should desist from provocative acts
which could foment violence. (vin)