Dialog tries to bridge gap on reform

Dialog tries to bridge gap on reform

JAKARTA (JP): Senior government officials and students held a
much-anticipated dialog yesterday to try and bridge the gap
between them on the shape and pace of the political reforms which
both sides claim to advocate.

While the atmosphere was generally amiable, with both sides
patiently listening to and responding to each other's points,
there were glaring differences as each side seemed entrenched in
its original stance.

However all in attendance agreed that reform was needed to
lift the country out of its deepening economic crisis.

The main points of dissension lay in the pace at which these
reforms should take place, with some students demanding a time
limit to bring the nation out of its economic doldrums.

Students also saw their demands for a cabinet reshuffle
rejected.

Some 300 people participated in the seven-hour dialog which
involved 15 cabinet ministers and several university rectors.

However, only about 50 students attended the Armed Forces
(ABRI)-initiated meeting at the Jakarta Fair Grounds in Central
Jakarta.

The dialog was further blotted by the absence of
representatives of the country's leading universities -- the
University of Indonesia, the Bandung Institute of Technology and
the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University.

It was designed to be an answer to the incessant student
rallies held in various campuses across the country in the past
two months.

Constitutional law expert Yusril Ihza Mahendra, rector of the
State Institute for Public Administration Ryaas Rasyid, military
analyst Salim Said, economist Anggito Abimanyu and bureaucrat
Gunawan Sumodiningrat were the moderators.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty
Eradication Haryono Suyono, Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono
and Minister of Information Alwi Dahlan were among the ministers
present.

Also present were Army chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo
Hadisiswoyo, Navy chief Admiral Arief Kushariadi, Air Force chief
Marshall Sutria Tubagus, Police chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo, retired
generals Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo and Z.A. Maulani and economists
Rizal Ramli, Sri Mulyani and Didik J. Rachbini.

Gradual

Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
Wiranto told the students that there should be no doubt about the
government's commitment to political reform.

"The government has no arguments against the students' calls
for political reform. Reform is obligatory for us (the nation) as
we cannot maintain the status quo forever," he said.

"Yet, such reform cannot occur all of a sudden. It should be
gradual," he added.

Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry
Ginandjar Kartasasmita said economic reforms should be the
government's priority but these too could not occur overnight.

"It's impossible to have economic reforms within a day. They
need a process."

He cited Mexico's experience in overcoming its crisis in the
1980s: "It took them three years to end the crisis."

The government's senior economics minister also said he was
willing to hold another meeting to discuss the economic reforms
at greater length.

"It's very difficult to be given only five minutes. I'd be
willing to explain in greater detail the economic side in a
separate dialog later," he said.

But the students maintained that the government should not be
unchecked in its handling of the crisis and that if the present
cabinet was unable to resolve it the ministers should resign.

"I agree with the chairman of the Muhammadiyah Moslem
organization, Amien Rais, who proposed a six-month grace period
for the cabinet ministers to settle the crisis," said Muhammad
Lutfi of the Malang-based Brawijaya University in East Java.

"Cabinet ministers should relinquish their seats if they fail
to bring an end to the crisis by that time," he said.

Eka Dharma of Udayana University in Bali supported Lutfi's
statement: "Cabinet ministers should be willing to resign if they
are unable to solve the state's economic upheaval."

Wiranto, however, flatly rejected any proposals for a cabinet
reshuffle. "We (cabinet ministers) are only President Soeharto's
aides ... It will rest on him to decide".

The Armed Forces commander also politely rejected one
student's call for President Soeharto to retire given the
nation's current dire economic state.

"They should understand that there are certain procedures to
elect and to dismiss a president," Gen. Wiranto said.

Retired general Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo underlined the need
for ministers to prove their commitment to reforms by displaying
concrete measures.

"What the nation needs is for the government to translate such
commitments into practical actions," he said.

Practical

A hint of dissatisfaction was evident among the students when
Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto Arismunandar reasserted
his ban on students engaging in "practical politics".

"Campuses are not the place for political activities," the
minister said. "Students should concentrate on their studies, not
politics."

He proceeded to venture into an argument of how students would
be deficient in facing global challenges if they failed to return
to their classrooms and focus on their studies.

"Currently, we have foreign artists and lawyers working here.
In the future more foreigners with a wide variety of skills will
come," he said.

But some other ministers yesterday claimed they were pleased
to have met the students and listened to their concerns.

Minister of Social Affairs Siti Hardijanti Rukmana said she
welcomed the aspirations expressed by the dialog participants.

"I'm not offended by the participants' strong words," she told
reporters after the meeting.

"It's usual for me to see the students' outspokenness," she
said, "It shows to me that they love and care for their country
very much."

Hardijanti, who is President Soeharto's eldest daughter, said
it was high time for the nation to uphold political openness and
democratization.

"We have to honestly accept that," she remarked.

Hardijanti also said that ministers would be more than happy
to be invited to the campus and discuss the issues with the
students.

"Don't consider us enemies. You students are our own brothers
and sisters," she said in a sympathetic tone.

She pleaded for students to remain patient and not pass
judgment on the work of the cabinet.

"We were only sworn in a month ago, so please give us time to
implement the reforms."

She affirmed that reforms were necessary but said that
economic reforms should precede political changes.

"If the political ones take precedence it will only hamper our
own economy," she argued.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono said
he was not bothered by the small number of university students
who attended.

"The most important thing is that the dialog can absorb the
aspirations of all elements of society," he said.

Commenting on the students who rejected the dialog, Agung said
they should not have ignored such a rare but sympathetic and
democratic event.

"It's their right to reject our invitation. Yet, they should
have attended." (imn)