Wiranto talks with student leaders

Wiranto talks with student leaders

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces
(ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto met leaders of the University of
Indonesia postgraduate's Student Forum (Formas) on Friday,
discussing a range of current hot issues, including the tarnished
image of ABRI, Antara reported.

Giving no details on where the meeting was held, the state
news agency quoted a press statement as saying that the dialog
was attended by Wiranto and his top brass, including Maj. Gen.
Sudi Silalahi, the assistant for social and political affairs to
ABRI's chief of territorial affairs, the coordinator of expert
staff for ABRI, Maj. Gen. I. Gde Nyoman Arsana, ABRI spokesman
Maj. Gen. Syamsul Maarif and ABRI's chief secretary Brig. Gen.
Bambang Sutedjo.

Formas was represented by chairman DT Rimbawan and secretary-
general Ali M. Sutopo.

Antara did not say which party released the statement.

Rimbawan expressed what he said was the wish of the people,
that ABRI will improve its professionalism and avoid repressive
measures in dealing with protesters, as this could harm both the
soldiers and the common people.

He said that a study of recent cases of human rights
violations perpetrated by ABRI, such as the kidnapping of
political activists and the shooting of student protesters,
should be used as a valuable lesson for the whole nation, so
these things are not repeated.

Formas also suggested that ABRI's past transgressions should
not remain unresolved, as this would further damage the
military's image, but their resolution should be ABRI's top
priority.

In response, Wiranto agreed with Formas' suggestion, and
expressed his wish to continue holding such open dialogs with
students to share their aspirations. (ivy)