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.