JAKARTA. Nov 10: Amid tight security and student protests. President BJ Habibie on Tuesday opened a controversial government assembly that will cast rules for 1999 parliamentary elections, reports AP.

Leaders of the People's Consultative Assembly said they were determined to abandon the autboritarian legacy of former President Suharto, who quit in May amid riots and protests.

But hundreds of students who gathered at a university campus rejected the meeting of Indonesia’s highest legislative body, saying it was not sincere about democratic reform. They cited the military's prominent role in politics.

Inside the green-roofed hall of Parliament. House Speaker Harmoko declared before 1.000 delegates that constitutional change was the best way to guide Indonesia's transition to democracy.

This is actually the time for

us to think clearly, so as to prevent the euphoria of freedom from burying the very essence of democracy," said Harmoko. a onetime ally of Suharto.

"We are therefore confident that the people will never accept a government formed by way of anarchy." Harmoko said.

Fears abound that political tension now will trigger unrest similar to the riots that eventually forced Suharto from office. Students demonstrated against the assembly on Monday, but huge numbers of troops blocked them from approaching Parliament.

Harmoko said delegates will revoke old decrees that preserved special presidential powers during the Suharto era. and would concentrate*on human rights and clean government and trying to fix Indonesia’s shattered economy.

"This is no longer the time for us to give a negative response to criticism lodged against the government." he said. "Worse,

even when quite often the reaction over a criticism is accompanied by the allegation that is a subversive exercise.”

"In a sign of compromise. Indonesia's military chief has said that the armed forces are willing to discuss demands to limit their prominent role in politics.

Gen. Wiranto said any decisions should be left to the delegates at the assembly, formerly a haven for Suharto loyalists who reelected the former president in March to a seventh, five-year term.

One proposal to be considered by the assembly would reduce the number of seats allotted to the military in the 500-seat Parliament from 75 to as few as 25. The military began scaling back its role in politics in the final years of Suharto's authoritarian rule.

Student protesters, however, say all members of Parliament should be elected and appointed seats should be abolished.