Legislators urged to end recess and meet with students
Legislators urged to end recess and meet with students
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) should cut
short its recess period to allow members to meet students who
have demonstrated for reforms for months, a legislator says.
Soelaiman Biyahimo, the chairman of the internal affairs
department of the House, said the legislature should be more
active than the government and heed the students' demand for
dialog.
"In such an emergency situation, DPR cannot just sit back and
fail to take any initiative," Antara quoted Soelaiman as saying
on Saturday when he attended the wedding of a son of Coordinating
Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar
Kartasasmita.
The legislator from the United Development Party (PPP) faction
said the current recess was too long, especially because the
nation needed all efforts to handle the severe economic crisis.
The House began its recess on March 12, just one day after the
reelection of President Soeharto and the election of Vice
President B.J. Habibie. It is scheduled to last through May 4.
The legislature is expected to be back in session the
following day, when members will report on the results of their
visits to regions nationwide, especially their respective
constituencies.
"We cannot just let the government be bombarded by the
students' (demonstrations), the House should play its role," said
the legislator.
Another PPP member, Aisyah Aminy, opposed Soelaiman's stance,
saying legislators needed more time to rest after working
continually from October, when the first phase of the People's
Consultative Assembly's General Session began, to March.
"The students can come to the House anytime they want as long
as they inform us in advance," Aisyah said Saturday. "We are very
willing to talk with them. This recess does not mean that we are
taking a vacation."
Student demonstrations have been frequent occurrences in major
cities in recent months. Some protests turned violent when
students insisted on trying to reach the provincial legislative
councils but were prevented from doing so by security forces.
DPR is one of the favorite destinations for protesting
students, along with the National Commission on Human Rights.
The Armed Forces (ABRI) has repeatedly warned students to not
march on the streets. Maj. Gen. Agum Gumelar, commander of the
Wirabuana Command overseeing Sulawesi, has been alone in
tolerating the street demonstrations, and these student
demonstrations have proceeded peacefully.
President Soeharto has expressed willingness to talk to the
students and ordered ministers to heed their concerns.
Separately, legislator Eki Syachruddin from the dominant
Golkar faction warned the government Saturday that it should not
underestimate the voice of the students.
Eki criticized Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto
Arismunandar's warning to students to keep out of politics.
"Don't ever belittle student movements because they have moral
strength. When the country's economy is in such chaos, they are
brave enough to speak out, and that means that their movement is
strong," Eki said. (prb)