CSIS asked to prove that its serves the nation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid called on the Centre
\nfor Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to heed criticism
\nit had become overly exclusive, urging the 28-year-old think tank
\nto demonstrate its work served the entire nation.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a breaking-of-the-fast gathering at the CSIS
\noffice on Jl. Tanah Abang II in Central Jakarta, the President
\nquipped that some people teased CSIS as an acronym for Cina
\nSenang, Indonesia Susah (Chinese are happy, Indonesians in
\ntrouble).<\/p>\n
"Regardless of whether the criticism is right or not, let's
\nlearn from it if we don't want to continue to be regarded like
\nthat," said Abdurrahman, who professed to be a devoted supporter
\nof CSIS.<\/p>\n
The President's remarks were in response to comments by the
\nCSIS' Harry Tjan Silalahi during an informal discussion before
\nbreaking the fast.<\/p>\n
Harry, in his welcoming remarks, said CSIS would assist the
\nnew government by being critical.<\/p>\n
When Harry asked the President to pour out a few "watery words
\nof wisdom" for the audience, Abdurrahman, who seemed to be in a
\nfacetious mood, replied: "I won't just give you nice words, but
\nI'll pour you acid water."<\/p>\n
Accompanied by First Lady Sinta Nuriyah, Abdurrahman arrived
\nat the office about 20 minutes before the breaking of the fast at
\n6:07 p.m.<\/p>\n
About 100 guests were present, including businessman Sofyan
\nWanandi, chairman of the CSIS board of directors Djisman
\nSimandjuntak and Bank Danamon founder Usman Atmadjaja.<\/p>\n
Budiman Sudjatmiko of the People's Democratic Party (PRD), who
\nwas recently released from prison, and his girlfriend Catherine
\nwere also present.<\/p>\n
"I am sure many people will be upset by my presence here,"
\nAbdurrahman said of people's reaction to his visit to CSIS.<\/p>\n
He recalled how in the past he had been branded an agent of
\nIsraeli's Mossad, the United State's Central Intelligence Agency
\n(CIA) and Russia's KGB because of his ties with CSIS.<\/p>\n
"It is actually impossible to work simultaneously for the CIA
\nand KGB because they are arch rivals," he laughingly said.<\/p>\n
On the sidelines of the gathering, Sofyan clarified a
\nstatement he had made about Coordinating Minister for Economy,
\nFinance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Kwik reacted strongly to Sofyan's statement that Kwik's
\nperformance in the Cabinet would reflect on Chinese-Indonesians
\nas a whole and thus the country's ethnic Chinese should support
\nhim.<\/p>\n
"If he feels that my statement harmed him, I can only say
\nsorry, but I did not have that intention. I think I support him,"
\nSofyan told The Jakarta Post before the President's arrival.<\/p>\n
Sofyan said the statement was made in response to journalists'
\nquestions after his installment as the chairman of the newly
\nestablished National Business Development Council by the
\nPresident on Saturday.<\/p>\n
"I just conveyed the concerns of some people in the Kota
\narea," Sofyan said in reference to the ethnic Chinese dominated
\nbusiness district in West Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Sofyan acknowledged his views often differed from those of
\nKwik in the past, but added the differences never affected their
\npersonal relationship.<\/p>\n
"We may have our own views," said Sofyan before Harry
\ninterrupted him and advised him not talk to the press too much.<\/p>\n
Separately, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
\nwarned the members of the National Business Development Council,
\nwhich include several tycoons, not to abuse their positions on
\nthe council for their own interests.<\/p>\n
"If among them there are some who face bad debt problems, the
\nHouse expects them to put aside their business interests when
\nworking for the council," Antara quoted him as saying.<\/p>\n
The personnel of the 18-member council include Medco Group
\nowner Arifin Panigoro, Aburizal Bakrie of the Bakrie group, and
\nMaspion's Markus Alim and Great River's Sunyoto Tanudjaja.
\nSofyan himself has promised to quit the Council if he fails in
\nhis mission in helping the government restore the economy.(prb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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