Students walk out of dialog with Hartono
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)