Soedjana leads faculty backing for student movement

Soedjana leads faculty backing for student movement

By M.M.I. Ahyani

BANDUNG (JP): Soedjana Sapiie, a professor at the Bandung
Institute of Technology (ITB), has had to dispel public doubts
about his sincerity in supporting the student reform movement.

Early in 1997, he was chosen by his peers to chair a committee
set up by ITB faculty to decide the college's stance on the
political turmoil besetting the country. On May 20, he joined
thousands of students demonstrating on Bandung streets, and
shared their exhilaration the next day when Soeharto quit the
presidency.

Soedjana, 67, fondly known by his students and colleagues as
Pak John, was the driving force with ITB rector Lilik Hendrajaya
behind the Rectors Forum -- a nationwide association of
university rectors and professors that has served as a political
pressure group.

Yet some had their reservations about Soedjana because of his
association with B.J. Habibie, dating back to when the latter was
state minister of research and technology and president of
Bandung-based PT IPTN aircraft manufacturer. Soedjana's last
position in the company was senior executive vice president for
engineering and technology from 1992 to 1995.

As it turned out, the committee and the forum endorsed a
stance supporting students' aspirations.

Soedjana, who is the first to admit he does not have a
political background, spoke to The Jakarta Post late last month
on the student movement.

Question: Have students been able to maintain the purity of
their movement?

Answer: A lot of fundamental changes have taken place since
Pak Harto resigned. There's no question about the significant
contribution the students made.

The youths, the students, did not have vested interests that
many other people did. They just wanted to express something that
they really believed in. They were giving a voice to people's
conscience. In January (1997), the voice was ignored. But it
snowballed, and the students prevailed, shaping the opinion of
the public, winning the political support needed to bring Pak
Harto down.

Q: About the purity of student movement?

A: When Pak Harto quit, there was no planning for the future (on
the part of the students). This is where we can see that the
student movement was pure, that it was not a political movement.

The students were not ready to face such a situation. That's
because they were not politicians. They just wanted Soeharto to
step down -- they didn't think about what they wanted after that.

It's a problem, as well as a sign that students did not have
political scenarios. What transpired next was (differences of
opinion among students and groups) on two matters, namely the
legality and legitimacy (of Habibie's administration).

At ITB, we thought about this, and we believed there should be
an effort to unite those standing on the opposing side. This
could be done only by a person with great leadership... with
statesmanship.

Q: What about Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Abdurrahman Wahid?

A: What he has been doing is an act of statesmanship. He was
ready to swim against the current, willing to do what was not
popular. Gus Dur (Abdurrahman) said we should be realistic (and
involve Soeharto in a dialog for national reconciliation that he
initiated). (He acknowledged) Pak Harto still has a considerable
force.

Q: Has the Rectors Forum expressed this thought publicly or to
the government?

A: The main concern of the forum has been how to prevent more
victims from among students, especially during November's Special
Session of the People's Consultative Assembly. The... rectors
are saying that we do need a national reconciliation.

Now the forum is working to prepare itself to monitor the
general election. This would be effective because it's the only
way.

There are problems, of course, because there are students who
are so against the election. This is dangerous; the presence of
an extremist group which does not want to compromise. They just
want the current government to be replaced, that the current
House of Representatives does not have the authority to establish
draft laws.

They want radical changes. They cannot accept a general
election being held by the current organizers. This is dangerous.

Q: What are the characteristics of the extremist group?

A: I remember that in the 1970s, such groups also existed. They
saw things in black and white.

Such groups reject anything that they consider is not legal,
legitimate. What they want is the establishment of a presidium,
that will hold the elections. They want an overhaul. I worry
about such groups. They are not too big, not too many, but
they're militant.

They are not able to compromise.

Q: Is such a stance wrong?

A: Let's talk about the good and bad, rather than right against
wrong. History has shown that extremist activists will be
swallowed up by the people. I think this extreme minority will be
swallowed up by history, it will cause frustration, hatred,
animosity.

Such groups have concrete, firm stances which are healthy,
according to their own standard. But they see life as black and
white. Life isn't like that.

Q: As a campus administrator, how do you deal with them?

A: It's difficult. They are a minority but can cause problems at
certain psychological points. They have strong ties among
themselves. It is especially so if they enjoy the support of
certain political groups seeking to exploit them.

There are two things that we can do (on campuses) -- bring to
their senses or just ignore them. We know they're there, but
their number is small. But we have to say to them, don't cause
problems here!

It would be difficult to change them, they just won't listen
to us. But the majority of students are not like that.

Q: Are there any such groups in Bandung? At ITB?

A: At the Bandung Institute of Technology, students, together
with their teachers, formulate their ideals, and push for their
realization. The meeting (between reform figures) at
(Abdurrahman's residence) in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, is an
example.

But after that, no ITB students were involved in any
demonstrations. They said this was where they stopped, because
the arena was such, and they had to reposition themselves in a
place that was not extreme in nature.

They are students who are still pure, and they need strong
moral support. They are open for discussion. They are not
extreme, they can accept reality.

Q: You are close to Habibie. Do you have frequent contact with
him?

A: Rarely, in fact, never, since he became president. I know him
well, though.

Q: Do you wish to deliver the academics' views to Habibie
directly?

A: If it is possible, yes. Rectors are a group that still has
credibility. They are independent. If they can meet Habibie, I am
sure he would listen to them.