Sober alliance needed for reforms
Sober alliance needed for reforms
Some university students involved in demonstrations held a
dialog with ministers and the military last weekend. Mochtar
Mas'oed, a lecturer in political sciences at Gadjah Mada
University, Yogyakarta, reveals his views on the political
climate in the aftermath of this controversial meeting.
Question: Why do some students involved in the demonstrations
refuse to engage in dialog with government officials?
Mochtar: The majority of demonstrating students feel that they
are in a strong bargaining position and are only interested in
holding discussions with parties who can really make decisions on
reform, not with officials who will just make notes.
On the other hand, students who were willing to engage in
dialog with ministers and military leaders believe that it will
help them to identify officials who might be willing to support
their struggle for political, economic and legal reform.
Q: The students have raised their initial demands for a reduction
in general prices and the instigation of reforms, and are now
calling for changes in the cabinet and even the state leadership?
M: They have increased their demands because some of the students
hold radical views. I think the most important thing is to
include only students and government officials with moderate
views in the dialog because otherwise radicals will dominate the
meetings and inhibit the process of reform. Moderates from the
two sides need to establish an alliance if they are to formulate
the best format for reforms.
Q: Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto Arismunandar told
rectors to stop their students from conducting 'practical
politics' on university premises. Why did rectors refuse to do
so?
M: Because rectors know the condition of their universities
better than the minister and have closer contact with their
students. If they had followed the minister's instruction they
would have lost credibility with their students and staff and the
demonstrations may have become dangerous and uncontrollable,
posing a greater problem for the government.
Q: Do you think that government officials are taking student
demands seriously?
M: They might be serious, but primarily most are considering the
advantages and disadvantages for themselves in supporting the
demands.
We need figures who have a farsighted vision of the nation,
not those who think only of the short-term benefits for
themselves. We need to be certain that reform will benefit all
members of society.
Q: What do you think about the Armed Forces' (ABRI) initiative to
begin dialog with the students?
M: The real power in Indonesia rests with ABRI. It is therefore
natural that they took the lead and invited students to attend
such a meeting. Furthermore, if they failed to contain the noisy
demonstrations without trying this avenue they would undoubtedly
be heavily criticized. Now that they have started, they should
not be left alone.
Q: Do you think President Soeharto was serious when he told the
military they could begin to get tough with unruly demonstrators
if the situation required?
M: It does not matter whether Soeharto is serious or not. It
seems that the President is not fully aware of the students'
activities, so he merely considers them to be naughty children.
The President needs to become better informed about the student
movement.
Q: What should the House of Representatives (DPR) and the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) do in response to the
demands for reform?
M: Because they failed to consider popular aspirations during the
General Assembly in March, they must now try to make amends and
strive to fulfill their constitutional role. They must
incorporate the student demands into their agenda for new
legislation. As things currently stand, the students have taken
over the legislative branch's obligation to embody society's
aspirations.
Q: How do you view the recent clashes between demonstrating
students and security officers?
M: Both parties have made mistakes. Some students provoked
security officers, who in turn were too emotional and ill-
disciplined in their response. Both parties must become more
disciplined.
Q: What do you think about the disappearance of some student
activists?
M: I cannot make any comment because I have no information about
what happened. But if the issue is not resolved soon, the
government, which is duty bound to protect its citizens, will
blacken its reputation and that of Indonesia as a whole.
Q: Did you see any human rights violations during student
demonstrations?
M: Oh, yes. Beating demonstrators who were peacefully expressing
their opinions is a human rights violation. If rumors surrounding
the disappearance of student activists turn out to be true, that
too would be a serious human rights violation. The reappearance
of some of the missing activists has raised more questions than
it answered because they have refused to reveal their whereabouts
during their prolonged absence.
Q: What are the prospects for a solution to the problems caused
by student demonstrations?
M: If the government fails to take moves to overcome the
worsening economic situation soon, the country's economic and
social problems will get even worse. (riz)