Establishing a national leadership<\/p>\n
By Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Many people do not accept the legitimacy of
\nPresident B.J. Habibie and want the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR), as the highest legislative body in the Indonesian
\npolitical system, to convene a special session to terminate
\nHabibie's presidency.<\/p>\n
It would not be difficult for the MPR, once in session, to end
\nthe Habibie administration. However, the MPR should also elect a
\nnew president and vice president of Indonesia. That will create
\nvery delicate problems.<\/p>\n
The existing MPR is a product of the general election in 1997,
\nthe result of which was an overwhelming victory for Golkar, plus
\nrepresentatives appointed by the President.<\/p>\n
Not only the other political parties, but also many well-
\nthinking people, have accused the government of being very
\nsupportive to the Golkar victory. Many people believe that the
\npresent MPR is far from representing the aspirations of the
\npeople.<\/p>\n
If this MPR should elect a new president and vice president,
\nonly political leaders close to Golkar can expect adequate
\nsupport for their bid to the presidency.<\/p>\n
Leaders without support from Golkar, like Amien Rais and
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, will have no chance at all to get
\nsupport. Perhaps one or two members of Golkar and the Moslem-
\ndominated United Development Party are sympathetic to Amien Rais
\nbecause they admire his struggle for reform.<\/p>\n
But that would never become an organizational effort because
\nthe Golkar leadership will certainly back their own candidates to
\nbecome president. Even if Golkar members in the MPR are replaced
\nbecause of nepotism, the replacements will also come from Golkar
\nand will join the Golkar fraction. Under such circumstances,
\nthere is no change of national leadership in accordance with the
\npeople's aspirations.<\/p>\n
There are people who want the MPR to establish a presidium
\nafter having terminated the Habibie presidency. These people
\nconsider that no single person is strong and capable enough to
\nlead Indonesia in the present time of turbulence.<\/p>\n
Such a presidium should consist of intellectuals and religious
\nleaders and other persons of prominence. This is certainly a very
\nidealistic concept and proposal but somewhat naive due to the
\npolitical standpoint. Because these MPR members, who are assured
\nof the victory of their candidate through voting, will never
\nsacrifice their dominating position just for an idealistic
\nproposal. It is quite easy for them to convince the people that a
\npresidium consisting of several people, each with his\/her own
\ninterest, cannot be effective in leading the nation to overcome
\nits economic problems. But, again, a president elected by this
\nMPR is not in accordance with the objectives of the demanded
\npolitical reform.<\/p>\n
Indonesia can have a new leader in accordance with the
\npeople's aspirations only if that leader is elected by an MPR
\nwhose members are recruited through a general election allowing
\nthe people to directly elect their own representatives.
\nTherefore, new laws on general elections, on political parties
\nand on the positions of the MPR, the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) and provincial legislative councils (DPRD) must first be
\nmade.<\/p>\n
After the new laws are introduced, a general election must be
\nconducted. Such a general election will make it possible for the
\ncountry to recruit MPR and DPR members in accordance with the
\npeople's aspirations. Democracy will then become a reality and
\nthat will be an important part of the political reform. Only with
\nthis MPR can the people elect national leaders in accordance with
\ntheir aspirations.<\/p>\n
Of course, Habibie and other Golkar candidates will have a
\nchance to run in the leadership election. But figures like Amien
\nRais and Megawati will have similar opportunities.<\/p>\n
Neither a special session nor a general session of the present
\nMPR will provide a political base for people like Amien Rais and
\nMegawati to join in a leadership election.<\/p>\n
The Habibie administration should, therefore, be pressured to
\nfinish the legalization of the laws on general elections, on
\npolitical parties and on the position of the MPR, DPR and DPRD as
\nsoon as possible.<\/p>\n
A general election should be conducted six months from now, or
\none year at the latest. Habibie should realize that for his own
\nsake and political future, he must create and develop democracy
\nin political conditions.<\/p>\n
Intellectuals and other figures who are not too close to
\ncommon people should become aware that citizens want economic
\nimprovement at any costs. Citizens, for example, would rather
\nturn to support the Habibie cabinet if it succeeds in improving
\nthe economy while intellectuals create difficulties with their
\npolitical maneuvers.<\/p>\n
Although the legitimacy of the Habibie administration,
\naccording to many parties, is very weak, it has a role to play.
\nLet us hope that it will play that role properly.<\/p>\n
The writer is former Governor of the National Resilience
\nInstitute and now Ambassador-at-Large for the Non-Aligned
\nMovement.<\/p>",
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