Democracy threatened<\/p>\n
When President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's fanatical
\nsupporters first began to register themselves (to be sent to
\nJakarta), people thought they were all merely taunting (their
\nopponents). But now, since they have been given military-style
\ntraining, it seems they truly mean business.<\/p>\n
They plan to come to Jakarta if the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) passes a second memorandum to censure the President.<\/p>\n
How forbidding a republic this country would be if this
\nPasukan Berani Mati (group prepared to fight to the death) really
\ncame to Jakarta. As the organization which those people claim to
\nsupport, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) board should take
\nresponsibility for this action, which would for certain backfire
\non both the President and NU.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is a country whose leaders have pledged to uphold
\nthe Constitution and democracy. Now, however, before our very
\neyes, evidence is being presented of how the very principles of
\ndemocracy and constitutionality are being demolished.<\/p>\n
The Wahid camp may hold the view that the DPR's memorandums
\nare illegal. Still, the first memorandum was supported by eight
\nfactions commanding the majority of seats in the DPR. It was
\n(mostly) those same members who (in 1999) elected Abdurrahman
\nWahid president -- and the election of the former NU chairman was
\ngreeted with jubilation, especially by President Wahid's
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
Therefore, if now Wahid is censured by that same institution
\n-- the legislature -- his supporters should also greet it with an
\nopen mind.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/democracy-threatened-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }