VP says reforms a must, but will take time to implement

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President B.J. Habibie acknowledged yesterday that the nation needs to carry out comprehensive political and economic reform, but stressed that the process would take a long time to implement.

Speaking after separate meetings with leaders of the Indonesian Moslem Students Movement (PMII) and Muslimat Nahdlatul Ulama (NU Moslem Women) at Merdeka Selatan Palace, Habibie asked students to use mature ways to express their opinions and aspirations.

"We must not act arbitrarily, we must remain patient, and we must be civilized and not rude," PMII chairman Syaiful Bahri Anshori quoted Habibie as having said.

The two organizations are affiliated to the country's largest Moslem organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Habibie also called on people to work shoulder to shoulder with the government in efforts to restore the country's economy to its former level.

"This needs the unity and cohesion of the entire nation because it is not only Pak Harto's (the President's) problem as the head of state but a problem to be faced by all of us," Muslimat NU chairperson Aisyah Hamid Baidlowi quoted the Vice President as having said.

Habibie also reminded students not to neglect their studies because they had to prepare themselves to be the nation's future leaders.

Aisyah said she herself could not finish her studies because she spent too much time at street protests in the 1960s.

She hoped that both students and security personnel would refrain from using violence at the demonstrations.

"I speak as a mother, not as a politician," Aisyah said.

Despite the cautious pace of reform advocated by Habibie and the government, a number of noted individuals have said that the people's patience with the government is being severely tested.

Syaiful himself said student demonstrations were likely to continue for as long as the government continued to offer only "empty promises" as a solution to the crisis.

Definite actions

People want to see definite actions from the government, Syaiful remarked.

He said many people were disenchanted with the government because corruption and nepotism were still commonplace, despite a declared commitment to eradicate such practices.

"They can say anything, but people judge them on their actions not on their words," Syaiful remarked.

"The people are disappointed with a response consisting mainly of rhetoric. They are becoming bored," he suggested.

Separately, Gen. (ret) A.H. Nasution, one of the country's most respected figures, said he was pleased to see the young generation making their voice heard.

"I'm very happy. They shouldn't back down," he said after attending his granddaughter's graduation ceremony at Trisakti University.

"They're not merely demanding. I believe they truly grasp what is being felt by the people," he said. (prb/ivy)