Military chief scoffs at students' separatism bid

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)