Gus Dur abolishes special boards<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid engaged in a bit of
\nhousecleaning on Saturday by abolishing special boards and
\nadvisers established by former presidents Soeharto and B.J.
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
Six decrees were signed by the President effectively sweeping
\naway the formal vestiges of the past regimes.<\/p>\n
In all Abdurrahman discharged 34 advisers, eight special
\neconomic envoys, three councils and three ambassadors-at-large.<\/p>\n
But the President emphasized the move was based on the
\nobjective goal of eliminating any overlap of responsibility.<\/p>\n
\"There were questions about whether the move was related to
\nHabibie. There is no problem there, we just want to make an
\noverall review,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
He praised Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak and State
\nSecretary Bondan Gunawan for helping him to make the decision,
\nadding that it was not an easy decision to take.<\/p>\n
In his brief 17-month rule, Habibie appointed a number of
\nadvisers and extrastructural institutions.<\/p>\n
Presidential Decree No. 33 terminated the duties of 34
\nadvisers appointed by Habibie, including former ministers Abdul
\nLatief and Joop Ave, senior journalist Aristides Katoppo and Lt.
\nGen. (ret) Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo.<\/p>\n
The President also discharged eight special economic envoys,
\nincluding Lippo Group's James Riady and Texmaco's Marimutu
\nSinivasan, who is under investigation for a credit scam.<\/p>\n
Among the councils scrapped was the Council for the
\nEnforcement of Security and Law, aimed at accelerating the
\ngovernment's reform program. It was chaired by Gen. Wiranto, who
\nwas minister of defense and security\/Indonesian Military chief
\nwhen he was appointed to head the body.<\/p>\n
Also disbanded were the National Reform Team Toward a Civil
\nSociety, chaired by Habibie associate Adi Sasono, and the
\nCorporate Offshore Debt Settlement Team headed by Radius Prawiro.<\/p>\n
The President also discharged three ambassadors-at-large.
\nRelieved of their duties were ambassador-at-large for East Timor
\naffairs Lopes da Cruz, ambassador-at-large for maritime affairs
\nHasyim Djalal and Nana Sutresna, who was ambassador-at-large for
\nthe nonaligned movement.<\/p>\n
\"(Their positions) conflicted with the Ministry of Foreign
\nAffairs,\" the President remarked.<\/p>\n
While the President claims his latest move is geared toward
\nefficiency, in less than four months in office Abdurrahman has
\nestablished four new councils, not to mention the introduction of
\nseveral special aides, including Bondan, Marsilam and
\nPresidential Secretary Ratih Hardjono.<\/p>\n
Respected economist Emil Salim heads up the 13-member National
\nEconomic Council formed by the President. The body also includes
\nprominent economist Sri Mulyani Indrawati and former finance
\nminister Bambang Subianto.<\/p>\n
The council advises the President on macroeconomic policies
\nand issues, but does not have a policy-making capacity.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman also established the National Business Development
\nCouncil chaired by Sofyan Wanandi. It comprises 18-
\nbusinesspeople, including Alim Markus from Maspion and Anton
\nSupit from the Association of Footwear Producers.<\/p>\n
The purpose of this council is to advise businesses on how
\nthey can benefit from the government's policies.<\/p>\n
An Indonesian Maritime Council was also formed by Abdurrahman,
\nas was the National Commission on Law.<\/p>\n
Officially, Abdurrahman also has three advisers. Two economic
\nadvisers -- Widjojo Nitisastro and Ali Wardhana -- were retained
\nfrom Habibie's presidency.<\/p>\n
The third is Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, who serves as the
\nPresident's military adviser. Subagyo relinquished his post as
\nArmy chief of staff to Gen. Tyasno Sudarto in November.<\/p>\n
\"Currently, the President only has three advisers,\" Marsilam
\nremarked. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-abolishes-special-boards-1447893297",
"image": ""
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