Jakarta – Indonesian students pressing for the trial of former President Suharto say it is the only way to restore public faith in the government of Dr B.J. Habibie, The Jakarta Post has reported.
"It cannot be denied that people really believe the present government is a continuation of that under Suharto," Mr Guntur Prisanto, organising chairman of a three-day student dialogue told the newspaper.
This meant that restoring public trust was a vital step, he said, adding that continuing the investigation into the wealth allegedly accumulated by Mr Suharto during his 32 years in power would not restore faith in the government automatically. But it would at least be a good start, he acknowledged.
The dialogue was aimed at learning the aspirations of students, especially those living outside the big cities. It involved 100 students from 51 universities and colleges, and representatives from 33 student groups in 18 provinces.
Mr Guntur said a trial for Mr Suharto, who was ousted from power last May, came up as a main subject. But he added that "frankly, issues brought up by students in Jakarta do not always reflect concerns of students in the regions".
Students in major cities like Jakarta and Surabaya have been vocal over the issue of putting Mr Suharto on trial – and have been more critical over the pace of investigations by the Attorney-General's Office.
Concern about the pace appears to have been heightened following a leaked telephone conversation, allegedly between Dr Habibie and Attorney-General Andi Ghalib, in which they discussed the investigation.
The conversation, a transcript of which was first published in a current affairs magazine, gave the impression that the probe was just for show, to ease tensions and to spare the former Indonesian leader from facing "a people's court".
Mr Andi has denied ever holding such a conversation, but Dr Habibie has not denied that the tape is genuine, and his advisers have confirmed implicitly that it is not a fake.
Other points raised by students included a demand to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism at all levels; a call to end discrimination under the law; and the return of community-owned land "which was forcibly brought under the control of the government, the private sector or other related parties", the Jakarta Post reported.
[On March 11 AFP reported that some 100 students rallied outside the defense ministry to demand the resignation of armed forces chief Wiranto, for his failure to halt the violence in Ambon. Calling themselves the Rawamangun Student Forum, they chanted "Wiranto useless" and demanded that the military – including those high-ranking officers "whose hands are stained with the people's blood" – be held responsible for human rights violations in the past - James Balowski.]