Officials deem protest 'harmful'

JAKARTA (JP): Government officials have expressed fears the resurgence of student demonstrations on Monday and Tuesday may do more harm than good for the nation's shaken morale.

Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said on Tuesday the people did not sympathize with the demonstrators because they needed concrete solutions to end their suffering.

Wiranto, also minister of defense and security, said the protest only served to detract from the people's growing sense of security and deplete international confidence in Indonesia.

Involving thousands of protesters, the demonstration at the House of Representatives in Central Jakarta has recorded a toll of five injured students. Two of them suffered severe wounds in a clash with security personnel at 1:20 a.m. on Tuesday.

Wiranto urged students to halt their protests and work to help the government in overcoming the severe economic problems. "Judged from all aspects, I think their actions are very harmful," Wiranto said after meeting with President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace.

The President summoned Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Justice Muladi and Wiranto. All refused to disclose the subject of the meeting.

Wiranto said there was "no way" the demonstrations could have been spontaneous.

Students returned to the streets on Monday and Tuesday in Jakarta and the East Java capital of Surabaya to demand the lowering of rice prices and the resignation of Habibie.

Earlier in the morning, Muladi described the students' demands for Habibie's resignation as excessive. "We need time and we ask for the chance to improve the situation. We have to be realistic because we have just been in the job for about 100 days, but we have done a lot."

Muladi said students had the rights to express their views, but asked them also to consider "greater national interests". (prb/nur)