Critics invited to join reconciliation team<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will soon launch the National
\nReconciliation Team and invite outspoken critics, including
\nopposition leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, to join, according to
\nMinister of Justice Muladi.<\/p>\n
Muladi told the media here on Wednesday that the membership of
\nthe team would include government officials, human rights
\nactivists and members of various non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
Muladi said he was still consulting with fellow ministers and
\nthe National Commission on Human Rights, which proposed the
\nteam's establishment in June, on the team's strategies and
\nobjectives.<\/p>\n
\"The team will be divided into small groups in line with the
\nproblems to be handled, such as problems in the economy, politics
\nand social and cultural problems,\" Muladi said before attending a
\nweekly cabinet meeting at the Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
President B.J. Habibie gave his nod earlier this month to the
\ncreation of the team to spearhead the campaign to anticipate
\nrising threats of disintegration and separatism.<\/p>\n
Muladi has said the team is expected to unite various elements
\nin society, encourage people to turn bad experiences into bitter
\nbut valuable lessons for a better future, and bridge gaps between
\nparties in the community.<\/p>\n
The President appointed Muladi as a liaison official between
\nthe government and other parties in the team's establishment and
\ncreation.<\/p>\n
The government will be represented by Coordinating Minister
\nfor Political Affairs and Security Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung,
\nMinister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
\nWiranto, and Muladi.<\/p>\n
Prominent political activists, including National Mandate
\nParty (PAN) chairman Amien Rais, and Habibie's economic advisor
\nFrans Seda have said that rather than establishing such a team,
\nHabibie should handle more urgent problems like food shortages.<\/p>\n
Frans, a former minister of finance, said the team would be
\nuseless if it was meant merely to tame opposition leaders.<\/p>\n
\"In such a situation the term reconciliation is going a little
\nbit too far,\" he said recently.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais said he supported the establishment of the
\nreconciliation team but added that it should take immediate and
\nconcrete actions to solve the problems of food scarcities and
\nskyrocketing prices. (prb)<\/p>",
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