Abdurrahman inaugurates Habibie Center<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid inaugurated the
\nhighly publicized Habibie Center on Monday and said that
\npromoting democracy in the country is not "an easy job" as
\ndemocratic traditions were virtually unknown during the past
\nregime.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said that what had been in place before were only
\n"democratic institutions" such as the House of Representatives
\nand the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
"We have been able to establish democratic institutions ...
\nbut they don't work for democracy because the tradition of
\ndemocracy is not known here," the President said during the
\ninauguration ceremony of the center, which is named after his
\npredecessor, B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
"That's why I said to myself that I have to open the Habibie
\nCenter in order to allow us to develop both the institution and
\nthe tradition (of democracy)," Gus Dur, as the President is
\npopularly called, said.<\/p>\n
According to its founders, including former justice minister
\nMuladi, the center was established to promote democracy and human
\nrights in the country.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said, however, that the center was "the most
\ndifficult decision to be made" by Habibie.<\/p>\n
"He is used to technology and the advancement of science, but
\nnow he has to work for democracy ... it is not easy because he
\nknows the institutions but he (still) has to learn how to develop
\nthe tradition of democracy," the President said, referring to
\nHabibie's 20-year tenure as research and technology minister
\nunder the Soeharto government.<\/p>\n
Habibie took over from Soeharto, who resigned on May 21, 1998
\nfollowing unrelenting student rallies, but withdrew his
\npresidential bid last October after the People's Consultative
\nAssembly voted against his accountability speech.<\/p>\n
During his speech, Habibie, who grows his mustache, reaffirmed
\nthat he was a democrat at heart.<\/p>\n
To prove his statement, he said that during his brief
\nadministration, 67 laws, 300 government regulations and 100
\npresidential decrees had been produced to pave the way for
\ndemocracy in the country.<\/p>\n
"Before my time, the power was in one hand, in the president's
\nhand. (But) I had 'depowered' that ... based on my conviction,"
\nhe beamed, referring to his efforts to reduce the excessive
\npresidential power he inherited from his predecessor.<\/p>\n
Habibie also said that the center would actively work in
\nsynergy with the government for a bright future for a democratic
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Members of the center, who are mostly Habibie's close
\nconfidantes from when he was in power, have repeatedly denied
\nthat the center is to be used as vehicle to return Habibie to
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
Habibie said the center, which was set up on Nov. 10 last
\nyear, was also aimed at enhancing human resources and technology.
\nIt provides scholarships and awards through the Habibie
\nFoundation for Human Resources in Science and Technology.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Mulyana W. Kusumah, who attended the event, said
\nthe center could become the most influential think tank for the
\ngovernment, given its wide-ranging fields and people behind it.<\/p>\n
"I think it's better for the government to count on it in
\nevery policy making process," he told journalists.<\/p>\n
Other attendants included former president of the Philippines
\nCorazon Aquino, who chairs the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Foundation,
\nHouse legislators, diplomatic members and non-governmental
\norganization activists.<\/p>\n
A two-day seminar on democracy and human rights will follow
\nMonday's opening ceremony. (01\/byg)<\/p>",
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