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)