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)