Menwa members vow to maintain regiments
Menwa members vow to maintain regiments
JAKARTA (JP): Some 1,000 members of Jakarta-based university
student paramilitary regiments (Menwa) held an assembly at the
National Monument in Central Jakarta on Saturday, airing their
demand to maintain the regiment's existence in campuses.
"Menwa is part of academic freedom and its existence is
guaranteed in Article 30 of the 1945 Constitution on state
defense and Article 28 of the Constitution on freedom of
expression," Matsani of the Mercu Buana University Student
Battalion Regiment said.
Some 800 participants of the assembly wore military-like
uniforms, while the remaining 200 took part in the gathering in
their civilian outfits.
The assembly members represented 10 universities in the city,
which are grouped under the Jayakarta Student Paramilitary
Regiments.
The universities, included private Indonesian Christian
University (UKI), the Persada Indonesia University (UPI), and the
Krisna Dwipayana University, and Jakarta State University (UNJ).
Matsani called on the public not to blame the whole of the
student regiments for all the wrongdoings, which had been
committed by some irresponsible members.
He said the regiments had their role in state defense
activities as they train students with militaristic skills, which
will be beneficial for serving in the country's defense.
Firman, spokesman of the Jayakarta Student Paramilitary
Regiments, said members of the student regiments were not an
extension of the Army.
"We are trained by the military for only 14 days to adopt
their skills. But that doesn't mean that we are part of their
intelligence unit," he said.
Firman said that along with the plan to carry out autonomous
education, the regiments could finance their activities without
any support from the universities and the Ministry of Defense.
He added that the student regiments had prepared themselves to
challenge those who are opposed to their existence.
"As long as the 1945 Constitution prevails, we will fight for
our rights of existence," he said.
Firman said that other students in the universities, whose
regiments are represented in the Jayakarta Student Paramilitary
Regiments had expressed their support for paramilitaristic
activities in their respective campuses.
The existence of the student paramilitary regiment in campuses
has been the target of harsh criticism, as students and people in
general argued that such a regiment only displayed their
militaristic skills, thus creating an exclusive group in campus.
Minister for National Education, Minister of Defense and a
representative of the Ministry of Home Affairs agreed on May 25,
2000 to revoke the 1975 Joint-Ministerial Decree on the student
regiments existence.
The three ministries had proposed in the 1975 decree that each
campus set up its own student unit for state defense activities,
whose membership is voluntary and managed under the university
rectorate.
Matsani said they would soon hold talks with the three
ministers to air their demand that the joint-ministerial decree
should not be revoked. (06)