Habibie to announce probe results this week
Habibie to announce probe results this week
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie will announce the result
of the probe into last week's bloody incident which left 15 dead,
Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung disclosed on Monday.
Meanwhile Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono
alleged "radical groups" provoked students into causing troops to
shoot at them, which led to six deaths during the Friday rally in
front of the Atmajaya university near the Semanggi cloverleaf.
The President, Akbar said, would receive all inputs from the
public especially the National Commission for Human Rights to
enable him to take a "just and transparent decision."
"The results will be revealed to the people in due course, and
are expected within the week," Akbar said after attending a six-
hour meeting with the President along with other 10 cabinet
members at Merdeka Palace.
Ministers attending the meeting included Minister of Defense
and Security Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Education and Culture
Juwono Sudarsono and State Minister of Youth and Sports Agung
Laksono.
The President also summoned National Police Chief Lt. Gen.
Roesmanhadi and State Intelligence Coordinating Board Lt. Gen.
(ret) Zaini Azhar Maulani.
Juwono said he appreciated students' spirit but warned them
not to be abused by radical groups who planned to challenge the
government.
The radical groups, he said, provoked students with the aim
that "as many as possible would fall victim," given the value of
students becoming martyrs.
Also speaking after meeting Habibie, he said the groups used
buildings along Jl. Jend. Sudirman as their base. Juwono did not
identify the groups or the source of his allegations.
Especially on Friday afternoon, he said, these people were
among the students cursing security officers and hurling stones
at them.
He was especially concerned about students who entered the
university in 1997 or this year as they were "too young" and too
enthusiastic. He said they could become an easy target for the
radical groups.
"Four of eight dead students were from these batches," Juwono
said. (prb)