Gradual reforms suggested<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Leading political observers advocated yesterday
\ncareful and gradual reforms, saying that a revolution would only
\nendanger the people and leave the country vulnerable to the
\nemergence of a dictatorship.<\/p>\n
Ryaas Rasyid, Siswono Yudohusodo and Hermawan Sulistyo agreed
\nin a seminar on political and economic reforms that gradual
\nchange was the safest option for a country struggling to
\nrecuperate from a crippling economic crisis and to grow into a
\nbetter nation.<\/p>\n
"Should a revolution take place a dictator will emerge at the
\ntop of the political tree and take control of the situation,"
\nRyaas told the seminar held to commemorate the first anniversary
\nof the relaunch of Panji Masyarakat weekly.<\/p>\n
Attended by 200 people, the seminar explored various reasons
\nfor the ongoing student protests across the country which are
\ndemanding an end to the economic crisis and economic and
\npolitical reform.<\/p>\n
Ryaas cited German dictator Adolf Hitler, who rose to power
\nduring a political crisis in the early 1930s.<\/p>\n
He also said that reform should not be equated with
\nrevolution.<\/p>\n
"Reform is a gradual process of non-destructive change,"
\nRyaas, who is rector of the State Institute for Public
\nAdministration, said.<\/p>\n
"Reform takes place to safeguard the nation from future
\ncrises," he added.<\/p>\n
Siswono, a former minister of transmigration, said any
\nmovement for reform should be in compliance with the 1945
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
"If people want reform, they must channel their aspirations
\nthrough constitutional mechanisms," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the country's founding fathers had incorporated
\ndemocratic principles in the Constitution, drafted in 1945.<\/p>\n
"The principles are still applicable today," he added.<\/p>\n
He also called for patience from those demanding reform.<\/p>\n
"Doesn't every religion teach us that patience is a noble
\nquality for human beings?" he asked.<\/p>\n
"Why don't we give President Soeharto the opportunity to
\ncomplete his term in office?" he added.<\/p>\n
Some government critics said the new cabinet should be given
\nonly six months to prove their mettle, and be forced to resign if
\nthey failed to settle the economic crisis within that time.<\/p>\n
Siswono said creating prosperity for the nation, through clean
\nand credible governance, was neither simple nor easy.<\/p>\n
"It would have taken me more than one term in office to create
\na positive image for my ministry," he said. Siswono served only
\none term, between 1993-1998, as transmigration minister. He was
\nminister of public housing in the 1988-1993 cabinet.<\/p>\n
He said he dismissed a number of staff members and demoted
\nothers during his most recent ministerial term.<\/p>\n
Siswono said adherence to the Constitution should be the
\npeople's main concern, if they insisted on an immediate
\nreplacement of the state leadership.<\/p>\n
"Article 2 of the 1945 Constitution allows for an immediate
\npresidential election through an Extraordinary Session of
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR)," he said.<\/p>\n
He argued the most urgent reform required was to improve the
\nrecruitment system for the Assembly, the House of Representatives
\nand lower legislative councils.<\/p>\n
"In my opinion, reforms should begin in our legislative bodies
\nbecause they are supposed to control the executive branch of the
\ngovernment," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Hermawan said there was a wide variety of reforms
\nthat would benefit the nation.<\/p>\n
"We have immediate reforms within the next month," he said,
\n"And, long-term reforms over the next 15 years."<\/p>\n
The researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences said
\nreforms would need to be implemented in a variety ways.<\/p>\n
"We have to talk about reforms in terms of personnel placement
\nin the cabinet and other government positions," he said.<\/p>\n
"We also have to talk about the replacement of those who hold
\npower," he added. (imn)<\/p>",
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