Gus Dur forms 'compromise' Cabinet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid unveiled his 35-
\nmember Cabinet on Tuesday, reflecting what he described as a
\ncompromise among the country's major political forces, including
\nthe powerful Indonesian Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
Compromise means retaining four ministers from the
\nadministration of former president B.J. Habibie, as well as
\ntapping new and popular political figures.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur, also named to his
\nCabinet eight scholars, three businessmen and three activists.<\/p>\n
Any influence of Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri in the
\nselection of the Cabinet was manifest in the inclusion of two
\nmembers of her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), not in the inclusion of women.<\/p>\n
Only two women were named to the Cabinet: environmental and
\nconsumer activist Erna Witoelar was named to head the Ministry of
\nSettlement and Territorial Development and politician Khofifah
\nIndar Parawangsa was appointed state minister of women affairs.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said the Cabinet's two most pressing tasks were to
\nspeed up Indonesia's economic recovery and defend the country's
\nterritorial integrity.<\/p>\n
The latter was an apparent reference to threats of
\ndisintegration as a result of regional discontent.<\/p>\n
Economist and popular columnist Kwik Kian Gie of PDI
\nPerjuangan leads the new economic team as coordinating minister
\nfor economy, finance and industry.<\/p>\n
The finance ministry portfolio was given to Bambang Sudibyo,
\nan economist from Gadjah Mada University.<\/p>\n
Gen. Wiranto lost his twin posting as TNI commander and
\nminister of defense and security, but was named the new
\ncoordinating minister for political affairs and security.<\/p>\n
The other top job in the Cabinet, coordinating minister for
\npeople's welfare, went to United Development Party (PPP) chairman
\nHamzah Haz, who served as investment minister in president B.J.
\nHabibie's Cabinet.<\/p>\n
The defense portfolio, traditionally held by military men, was
\ngiven to respected scholar Juwono Sudarsono.<\/p>\n
\"It was Gen. Wiranto who proposed Juwono,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
Another break from tradition was the appointment of Navy Adm.
\nWidodo A.S. as TNI chief, a job monopolized in the past by Army
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
In spite of talk of phasing the military out of politics, TNI
\ncontrols three other Cabinet posts, including two strategic
\nministries. Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was named to head
\nthe mines and energy ministry and Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar was
\nappointed to the transportation ministry. The other officer in
\nthe Cabinet is Rear Adm. Freddy Numberi, who is the current
\ngovernor of Irian Jaya. He was named state minister of
\nadministrative reform.<\/p>\n
New home minister Surjadi Soedirdja also is a retired Army
\nlieutenant general.<\/p>\n
On the appointment of Yudhoyono to one of the most lucrative
\nand corruption-prone Cabinet posts, Abdurrahman said: \"It's a
\nheavy task which requires the presence of a heavyweight.\"<\/p>\n
The Cabinet, announced by Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday afternoon,
\ncomprises three coordinating ministers, 16 ministers overseeing
\ndepartments and 14 state ministers. The attorney general and the
\nTNI chief complete the lineup.<\/p>\n
The previous Cabinet comprised four coordinating ministers, 20
\nministers overseeing departments and 12 state ministers, plus the
\nattorney general and TNI chief.<\/p>\n
Negotiations<\/p>\n
The President reportedly planned for a smaller Cabinet and as
\nlate as Monday a close aide said Abdurrahman was going to limit
\nhis Cabinet to 25. However, last-minute negotiations increased
\nthis number to the 35 announced by Megawati.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said the lineup of the Cabinet was the result of
\nbargaining between him, Megawati, representing PDI Perjuangan,
\nHouse of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung representing
\nGolkar, People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais of the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN) and Gen. Wiranto representing TNI.<\/p>\n
The President represented the National Awakening Party (PKB),
\nwhich he cofounded.<\/p>\n
Each of these figures will act as \"guarantors\" for the
\nministers they championed, Abdurrahman said, adding that if the
\nministers \"misbehaved\" their guarantors would be held
\nresponsible.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman refrained from coining a name for his Cabinet,
\nsaying the days of such symbolism had ended. \"But the theme of
\nthe Cabinet is national unity.\"<\/p>\n
The President denied accusations he was forced to accommodate
\nvarious political forces in his Cabinet in return for their
\nsupport in last week's presidential election.<\/p>\n
\"There is no question of payback. We looked for the best
\npeople to run the administration .... This is the best we could
\ncome up with.\"<\/p>\n
Admitting that the Cabinet might not please everyone, he said
\npeople had no choice but to accept it.<\/p>\n
Among the biggest surprises in the new Cabinet is the
\nabolition of the Ministry of Information, which was used, or
\nrather abused, by the Soeharto regime as a propaganda tool.<\/p>\n
\"You're the ones who wanted independence,\" Abdurrahman said
\nwhen a journalist asked about the fate of the ministry, whose
\nresponsibilities included \"guiding\" the national press.<\/p>\n
The government will retain a small office to help disseminate
\ninformation regarding its policies and plans, he said. \"The rest
\nis up to the press.\"<\/p>\n
Also abolished was the social services ministry, which was
\nreplaced by the office of the state minister of social affairs.
\nThe ministries of public works; tourism, arts and culture; and
\ncooperatives also changed status into smaller offices, each under
\na state minister.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said employees of ministries which were abolished
\nwould be funneled to other ministries or agencies, or given the
\nopportunity to work for regional administrations.<\/p>\n
Reflecting his desire to develop Indonesia's maritime sector,
\nthe President established the Ministry of Maritime Exploration.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he reduced the number of ministers overseeing
\ndepartments and turned many into state minister offices.<\/p>\n
The Cabinet's main task is to lead rather than to execute, he
\nsaid, adding that the execution could be carried out by
\nnondepartment governmental agencies or the private sector.<\/p>\n
The purpose of ministries, except for the ministries of
\neducation and law, will be to formulate policies and oversee
\ntheir implementation, he said, adding that the ministries would
\nnot be involved in the technical details of the policies.<\/p>\n
Although no date has been set, Abdurrahman said the new
\nCabinet would be sworn in immediately.<\/p>\n
All but one are in the country. Yahya Muhaimin, the minister
\nof national education, is in Washington D.C. and had been asked
\nto return to Indonesia as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\"He can be sworn in later,\" Abdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
He said all Cabinet members would have to declare their wealth
\nbefore taking up their posts. \"Let's find out how rich or how
\npoor they are.\"<\/p>\n
The President disclosed a list of Megawati's responsibilities,
\nincluding dealing with unrest in Irian Jaya, Maluku and Riau, and
\nhuman rights and environmental matters.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said he would focus on Aceh and the country's
\neconomic recovery.<\/p>\n
The President said he would attend Friday prayers in an
\nordinary mosque once a month, and that he and Megawati would meet
\nwith ordinary people twice a month to touch base with the people
\nand listen firsthand to their grievances.<\/p>\n
\"We want to remain in touch with the people. It would be
\ndisastrous if we ever lost touch with them,\" he said. (prb\/emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-forms-compromise-cabinet-1447893297",
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