Military sticks to plan on dialog with students

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said yesterday he would continue with his plan to hold a dialog with students because the nation needed their inputs to the development process.

The general said ABRI leaders, including commanders of regional military commands and military regiments, had already met with students and talked to them as equal partners.

"Through dialogs we can have a better understanding of our respective positions and vision. This will create an extraordinary strength if synergized," Wiranto said before attending a monthly cabinet meeting on the economy at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Wiranto invited students across the country to Jakarta last month to exchange views with him on the current economic crisis and possible solutions.

The students declined the offer and expressed suspicion over what they claimed was ABRI's hidden agenda and unilaterally arranged format for the dialog. They also said they would prefer to talk directly with President Soeharto.

"The dialog has not been canceled or postponed. The dialog is of national importance for mutual understanding," Wiranto said.

Separately, Minister of Justice Muladi praised students yesterday for their brave criticism of the government. He said the government needed fresh ideas on how to resolve the country's economic crisis.

However, Muladi, who is also rector of the state-run Diponegoro University in Semarang, warned students not to touch on "unconstitutional issues," such as demands to replace the President.

"If they demand political or economic reforms or the ending of corruption and collusion, I think that is okay," Muladi said before the cabinet meeting.

Muladi himself will hold a dialog with students on April 23 in Jakarta. The dialog was organized by the Association of Indonesian Moslem Students (HMI) and will be held at the Youth Center in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

When asked whether security personnel were allowed to intervene in on-campus demonstrations, Muladi replied: "If the rector is no longer able to control the situation and student safety and public security is endangered, security forces can intervene".

At least five police officers and a dozen youths were wounded when a 2,000 strong demonstration clashed violently with 500 security personnel in Yogyakarta last week.

Student leaders said police officers vandalized the student hall after they chased protesters into the Gadjah Mada University campus.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung said students had involved themselves in politics by raising the issue of reform.

"Student protests are a political maneuver because the students are demanding political reform," Tanjung said before the cabinet meeting.

Separately, Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto Arismunandar reiterated his previous warning to students not to touch political issues when demonstrating.

"Universities are scientific institutions designed to maintain and develop science, technology and the arts," Wiranto was quoted by Antara as saying.

Students have been continuing with on-campus demonstrations in big cities, including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung in West Java, Medan in North Sumatra, Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi, Lampung, and Padang in West Sumatra. Protesters are demanding sweeping economic and political reform and clean government.

Some of the demonstrations were marred by violence and scuffles when students attempted to march onto the streets. (prb)