JAKARTA, Sept 19, Reuter - The Indonesian government is not at war with its students but will continue to crack down on troublemakers, Defence Minister Benny Murdani said.

"Sometimes students should be sternly dealt with. They are not people who should never be touched or punished lest the world come to an end," Murdani said, addressing a House of Representatives hearing late on Monday.

Police have taken a tough line with students during a recent spate of demonstrations. In Jogjakarta earlier this month troops bore down with bayonets on a silent protest, injuring six students, human rights groups have charged.

Murdani said isolated incidents did not qualify as a confrontation between the government and students.

"You can count how many students have been thrashed and why they were treated that way. Only a few," he said. He gave no numbers.

"If we arrested 100 students on every campus, then maybe you could call it war," Murdani said.

"Students shouldn't shout in the streets and be abusive to the government. Why can't they be civilised?"

Political activity on campus is banned in Indonesia, where students have in the past been manipulated by political factions.

Student leaders in Jakarta say the recent upswing in activity reflects their desire to find a voice, which they feel has been stifled for many of the 23 years since President Suharto came to power with military backing.

"They tell us not to take to the streets, and we don't want to, not least because (the military) can crush us like this," said a student from the National University of Indonesia, crushing a stray ant under his thumb as he spoke.