Govt decedies to revamp student regiments
Govt decedies to revamp student regiments
JAKARTA (JP): Despite growing unpopularity and public debate
over university student regiments (Menwa), the government has
decided to maintain their existence by redefining their role and
function through a joint ministerial decree.
The decree was signed yesterday by Minister of Education and
Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro, Minister of Defense and Security
Gen. Edi Sudradjat and Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S. M.
during a ministerial meeting on political affairs and security.
"What was previously ambiguous has now become clear," said
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo
Soedarman of the new decree that replaces two older ones issued
in 1975 and 1978.
Under the new decree the activities of the student regiments
will not only come under the authority of the ministry of
education and culture but also the defense ministry and the
ministry of home affairs.
Student regiments are found in many universities and are set
up as part of the nation's total people defense concept.
In their development, some student regiments have assumed
military attributes and their role as part of the campus security
has led many members to act brutally towards fellow students who
are not members of the regiment.
Antagonism against Menwa finally burst in October when
students at Jakarta's oldest private university, National
University, in retaliation to supposed unscrupulous acts by
members of the regiment, burned their command post in the
university's compound.
In a series of reprisals several brawls erupted the following
weeks involving members of regiments and students.
These incidents led members of the House of Representatives
Commission IX on education to dissolve the student regiments
citing their often aggressive behavior to act more like soldiers
than students.
Several demonstration demanding the disbandment of Menwa for
their ruffian-like behavior also took place recently in Semarang,
Yogyakarta and Medan.
In response to the public outcry, the government formed an
inter-departmental team headed by the defense ministry's director
general for personnel, manpower and veterans Maj. Gen. Tony
Hartono to review the organizational status of Menwa.
The recommendations of the team have prompted the signing of
the new decree.
Soesilo in briefing journalists yesterday went into a lengthy
history of the student regiments which began in the early 1960s.
He further said that existence of Menwa are just like any
other extra-curricular organization on campus.
Based on the new decree, as "trained civilians" Menwa are
under the authority of the ministry of defense and their training
as such also fall under the same ministry.
Other activities related to the university fall under the
ministry of education while the technical administrative aspect
of the Menwa's training fall to the ministry of home affairs.
The decree further stipulates that mobilization of the Menwa
for defense purposes would follow under the regional military
commander. (mds)