Yogya sultan urges dialog

YOGYAKARTA: Sultan Hamengkubuwono X suggested yesterday that officials open their door to students wishing to discuss various issues of public concern.

The sultan said he believed this would minimize student demonstrations against policies they considered detrimental to the public interest.

"Past experiences show demonstrations recede after officials that have been criticized by students have talked the problem over," Hamengkubuwono told Antara.

Students of various universities in Yogyakarta, known as one of Indonesia's centers of education, have demonstrated their disgust with several government policies.

Last week, students of the Indonesian Islamic University demonstrated their anger at Supreme Advisory Council chief Sudomo for alleging Moslem fundamentalists were behind the religiously and ethnically motivated Dec. 26 riots in Tasikmalaya, West Java. (pan)