Students walk out of dialog with Hartono
JAKARTA (JP): A dialog between government officials and students ended in confusion yesterday after dozens of participants walked out of the meeting and held a "dialog of their own" outside.
At least 50 participants in the first session of a six-day seminar on formats for reform, organized by the Association of Indonesian Moslem Students (HMI), left the room after they were prevented from expressing their dissatisfaction at a statement made by Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono.
"This is such a rare opportunity. The chairman should have given us the opportunity to raise questions and express our opinions," a student participant from Central Java said before leaving the session.
"We are not satisfied with the Minister's explanation. We need more time to raise questions and to respond to his earlier statement," another participant said.
The row started after a participant from Jakarta challenged the credibility of the event, saying it was contrived and was being held in order to appease critics and so the government could claim it was holding a dialog with students.
"A dialog should produce concrete steps toward realizing the aspirations which we have been voicing in demonstrations," the student said, "otherwise, it is just useless."
A commotion began in the meeting hall immediately after his comments. Participants shot out of their chairs, waved their hands and clamored to raise questions.
The chairman, Kholiq Muhammad, said time was limited and therefore permitted only three questions to be asked. Other participants wishing to raise issues with the panel were ignored.
Hartono shrugged off the protest, saying it was the students themselves who initiated the meeting, not him.
"I am here because I was invited by HMI. I did not ask them to come here for a dialog," he said.
Hartono said he was neither angry nor disappointed with those who left the room.
"They are students, after all. They wouldn't be acting like students if they were not critical when their country is in such a state," he said.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the discussion, Vice President B.J. Habibie said that young people should attempt to build the nation's capacity in fields of science and technology to face global challenges and competition.
"I believe that every university student recognizes the importance of mastering certain skills through either formal or informal institutions," Habibie, a former state minister of research and technology, said.
"Young people should devote their best efforts to help the nation survive the economic crisis," he added.
Also attending the session yesterday were State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport Agung Laksono, Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto Arismunandar, State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung, State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.
Habibie called on students not to doubt the genuine desire of the country's leaders to initiate reforms.
"The government will continue to step up reforms," he said, adding that "reforms should be gradual and remain consistent with the Constitution."
He also said that reforms should not be undertaken at the expense of national unity.
"We need to turn failure into success," he said.
Following Habibie's address, HMI chairman Anas Urbaningrum said the student calls for reform were logical and natural.
"Their demands are objective and factual," he said.
He therefore called on the government not to dismiss the voice of the student community.
"Their contribution is constructive, progressive and will help the nation to better itself," he said. (imn)