Syarwan urges end to protests against Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid called on citizens to cease street demonstrations demanding that President B.J. Habibie step down.

While admitting that street demonstrations played a part in the downfall of Soeharto's regime in May, when students across the country took to the streets, Syarwan said "mass-mobilizing" activities should not serve as a precedent to changing national leadership.

"If people continuously stage street demonstrations, when can the nation settle the economic crisis and continue its delayed development programs?" he said, after addressing the opening of a two-day coordinative meeting of the country's 27 provincial governors. Several demonstrations have been staged this month demanding, among others, that Habibie step down and that prices of basic goods be lowered.

The minister said that street demonstrations, staged in the post-Soeharto state leadership era, lacked legal grounds and substance. He also said the protests were out of date, now that Soeharto had stepped down.

He supported earlier allegations by police that there were parties supporting students to change President B.J. Habibie's administration. He cited the discovery of documents near a demonstration site urging people to join the move to change President Habibie's administration, but did not refer to a particular demonstration site.

Syarwan, however, declined to mention the group or individuals who were behind the movement, suggesting that investigation into the matter and possible legal prosecution was part of the Armed Forces headquarters' duties. (imn)