Military chief scoffs at students' separatism bid

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): After choosing to keep out of the debate in the past two weeks, the military declared on Monday its opposition to local students' calls for an independent state.

Addressing provincial legislators, community leaders and student representatives, chief of the Wirabuana Military Command overseeing Sulawesi Maj. Gen. Suaidy Marasabessy labeled the demand "irrational".

"The demand is absurd because the province possesses limited natural resources compared to other provinces," Suaidy said.

"Never speak about independence because implementing a federal system in the country will be too risky for South Sulawesi as the province lacks adequate natural and human resources," Suaidy added.

South Sulawesi is second only to East Nusa Tenggara on the list of provinces receiving the largest government subsidies.

"South Sulawesi manages only to contribute about Rp 1 billion in regional revenue to the central government, far below natural resource-rich provinces like East Kalimantan which can gain tens of billion of rupiah in revenue," he said.

"So why bother protesting? East Kalimantan is a more deserving province to demand a federal state, but its people have opted to maintain unity."

Despite his criticism of their separatist yearnings, Suaidy praised the students for fighting for justice.

But the hearing descended into a heated debate between Suaidy and two student representatives who accused him of imposing his argument upon them.

"You cannot conclude that the majority of South Sulawesi's people do not opt for freedom merely because legislators here are not supportive of our movement. They merely voice their personal opinions," said student Syamsuddin.

Suaidy appeared annoyed by the statement.

"We have been very patient in dealing with you (students). We did not take punitive measures when you tore the national flag," Suady retorted.

Security authorities have completed the identification of students believed to have been involved in tearing down a national flag and burning a public bus on Friday, Suaidy said.

Almost daily student rallies demanding an independent state have been held in Makassar, formerly known as Ujungpandang, after the People's Consultative Assembly rejected then president B.J. Habibie's accountability speech two weeks ago. The rejection essentially killed the reelection bid of Habibie, a Sulawesi native and revered figure in the province. (27/edt)