Govt takes a beating on terrorism<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Factions in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) hailed the
\ngovernment on Saturday for helping to promote democracy in the
\ncountry but blasted it over its poor handling of terrorism.<\/p>\n
Reading out their reactions to President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's progress report, the factions said the government
\nhad played an important role in the implementation of the direct
\npresidential election system adopted through the constitutional
\namendments between 1999 and 2002.<\/p>\n
The election has been relatively free, peaceful and non-
\nviolent, leading some observers to conclude that democracy has
\ntaken a firm root in the country.<\/p>\n
Former coordinating minister for political and security
\naffairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has emerged as the clear winner
\nin the Sept. 20 runoff, garnering 60.9 percent of over 109
\nmillion ballots counted by Saturday evening. About 125 million of
\nthe 153 million people registered, or 81 percent, are believed to
\nhave voted.<\/p>\n
During the 33-year leadership of former president Soeharto,
\nvote-rigging was common.<\/p>\n
At the plenary meeting on Saturday, the third day of the MPR's
\nannual meeting, the only government minister to attend was
\ninterim coordinating minister for political and security affairs
\nHari Sabarno.<\/p>\n
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said he had suggested to President
\nMegawati not attend as the factions would focus most of their
\ndiscussions on the Assembly's internal affairs.<\/p>\n
\"Frankly speaking, we respect our President. It would not be
\nnice to see the President sit here the whole day doing nothing,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The Assembly factions also praised the government for its
\nsuccess in maintaining security and economic stability.<\/p>\n
They, however, also criticized the government for failing to
\nprevent the terrorist attacks which have rocked the country since
\n1999.<\/p>\n
\"The Golkar faction notices that terrorism has not been
\nhandled well. The fact that terrorist suspects have not been
\narrested has disappointed and worried the people,\" Golkar
\nspokesman M. Akil Mochtar said.<\/p>\n
A series of terrorist attacks have plagued the country since
\n1999, the bloodiest ones being the Bali bombings on Oct. 12 that
\nkilled 202 people and injured over 300 others, the JW Marriott
\nHotel bombing that claimed 12 innocent lives on Aug. 5, 2003 and
\nthe Kuningan car bomb explosion that killed 10 people on Sept. 9.<\/p>\n
Police have said regional terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah
\nis behind the bombs. They are searching for the two most-wanted
\nterror masterminds, bomb-making experts Dr. Azahari Husin and
\nNoordin Mohd. Top.<\/p>\n
Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\nspokesman Sabam Sirait said his faction fully understood the
\nagenda of terrorism eradication had not been finished.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the next government can eradicate terrorism for the
\nsake of the safety of the people,\" Sirait said.<\/p>\n
United Development Party (PPP) spokesman Zain Badjeber said he
\nhoped the new government would work harder to eradicate
\ncorruption, collusion, and nepotism.<\/p>\n
During the plenary meeting, military and police faction
\nspokesman Maj. Gen. Kohirin Suganda read a poem entitled \"Pamit\"
\n(Farewell).<\/p>\n
The military and police will no longer be represented in the
\nlegislative body.<\/p>\n
The plenary meeting also agreed to end the session on Sunday,
\ncutting short the annual meeting from five to four days.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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