Louise Williams, Jakarta – In a clear warning to Indonesia's growing opposition, President Soeharto has insisted there will be no political reform for at least five years and indicated his government will crack down on attempts to disrupt national stability.
Mr Soeharto met representatives of the country's three legal political parties and MPs yesterday in what observers described as a rare "crisis meeting" as Indonesia faces growing student demonstrations and economic hardship.
Police and troops in the northern Sumatran city of Medan battled about 500 students yesterday, firing tear gas and rubber bullets after being pelted with petrol bombs and rocks by demonstrators demanding political and economic reform.
Thousands of students also rallied in the major urban centres on the island of Java, and on university campuses in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, but no clashes with police were reported.
The Home Affairs Minister, Mr Hartono, quoted Mr Soeharto as saying: "If there is any intention for political reform, it should be prepared for the year 2003 after the present Government finishes its term.
"If the people want changes, they should make good preparations for the next general elections."
In a signal to security forces, Mr Soeharto said: "Any attempts to disrupt the interests of national development and stability should be countered."
Indonesia's armed forces are facing daily demonstrations by thousands of students and have come under increasing criticism since the disappearance and reported torture of anti-government activists involved in organising protests.
The Soeharto Government pledged to set up a fact-finding team to investigate claims that political activists were kidnapped and tortured after the Indonesian Human Rights Commission concluded that the Government's critics did not voluntarily disappear but were abducted by a well-organised group.
The commission stopped short of blaming the powerful armed forces for the disappearance of at least 14 activists since February, but said in a statement: "There is now a growing perception among the public that there is a possibility the State security apparatus is involved.
"These forced disappearances are terrible violations of human rights. "They caused suffering on the part of the victims and their families, spread fear among the society and tarnished the image of the nation."
The commission called on the armed forces and the Government to launch a national investigation immediately and to rehabilitate and compensate the victims.
Of the 14 originally listed as disappeared, nine have returned home, but five remain missing.
One of the activists, Mr Pius Lustilanang, gave evidence to the commission this week, describing a central interrogation centre where torture was being used against the Government's opponents.
He said he had been threatened with execution if he spoke of the events of the two months he was missing, and has since flown to the Netherlands.