Activists worry about Susilo's possible victory<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The imminent victory of Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in
\nthe Sept. 20 election runoff may jeopardize attempts to uphold
\nhuman rights and democracy, NGO activists say.<\/p>\n
Citing his military background, activists said on Wednesday
\nthey would remember his campaign promises.<\/p>\n
\"We will note his campaign promises on democracy and human
\nrights and see to it that he keeps them -- considering his track
\nrecord as a retired general,\" Ori Rahman of the Commission for
\nMissing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said Susilo was allegedly involved in East Timor violence,
\nas well as the attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nheadquarters on July 27, 1996.<\/p>\n
\"These promises were made by a person who has a problematic
\nhuman rights record, this may not bode well for the future,\" Ori
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Susilo's career, like that of many other military officers
\nhere, was enriched by a tour of duty in the country's former
\nprovince of East Timor. A number of human rights violations
\nfollowed Indonesia's rule from 1975 to 1999.<\/p>\n
Susilo was the Jakarta Military chief of staff at the time of
\nthe July 27, 1996 attack, an event that eventually catapulted
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri to the national stage as the victim of a
\nrepressive government.<\/p>\n
Another major factor -- which Ori said would be a problem for
\ncivil society -- is the fact that, as a former general, Susilo
\nand his supporters have a strong esprit de corps.<\/p>\n
This could hinder the settlement of human rights cases
\ncommitted by military members, he added.<\/p>\n
\"We might end up learning that his promises on human rights
\nand democracy will never materialize,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aceh activist Otto Syamsuddin Ishak of the Indonesian Human
\nRights Watch (Impartial) said that the military would exploit
\nSusilo to expand their political influence.<\/p>\n
\"Judging from his indecisive nature and his previous
\nstatements, the military will use him to regain their political
\nclout. I am very much pessimistic about his leadership,\" Otto
\ntold the Post.<\/p>\n
The military wielded great power during the 32-year
\nauthoritarian rule of Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Citing Aceh as an example, Otto said Susilo had never
\npresented a clear program, or steps to be taken to restore peace
\nto the war-torn province.<\/p>\n
\"He will make a political concession to the military on the
\nAceh issue -- a peace initiative will never come from warring
\nparties in the province,\" the activist said.<\/p>\n
Activist Dita Indah Sari said that the rise of Susilo signaled
\nthe start of systematic efforts to curb the civilian role in
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
\"The military's role in politics will automatically return.
\nRepressive actions and the limitation of free speech are
\npossible,\" Dita said.<\/p>\n
\"He does not have a clear concept of the settlement of human
\nrights cases, he could become a dangerous figure,\" she said.<\/p>",
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