Gus Dur's govt fragile: Observers, intellectuals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's government and
\nCabinet has a lot to do with the absence of opposition parties,
\naccording to political observers and intellectuals.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish Madjid, a noted Muslim intellectual, said that
\ndespite its legitimacy, the current government was quite fragile
\nand this had a lot to do with the personality of Abdurrahman, who
\nis widely recognized as a reconciliation figure.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur's reconciliation Cabinet is quite fragile and
\nbrittle and this is evident in its overdue response to managing
\nthe religious conflict in Ambon,\" he said at a seminar on
\nopposition in Indonesia here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
According to Nurcholish, the presence of an opposition is much
\nneeded to help put the President and his administration on track.<\/p>\n
\"The presence of an opposition is a must. But an opposition is
\nnot meant to be a destructive force aimed at toppling the
\ngovernment,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He asserted that the presence of an opposition should not be
\nregarded as taboo, noting that by nature human beings divided
\ninto two groups, male and female, who have a relationship on a
\ndialectical basis.<\/p>\n
\"So, the world would be devastated without a balance between
\nruling groups and opposing ones,\" he said, referring to the
\nbalanced power between the United States and Russia.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish, also a professor at the Paramadina Islamic
\nInstitute, called on all sides to exercise patience with the way
\nthe President was leading the nation.<\/p>\n
\"All sides should bear in mind that Abdurrahman, a Muslim
\nfigure we have known as Gus Dur, is the first president elected
\ndemocratically. We should give him more time to make adjustments
\nin leading a pluralistic nation despite his trial-and-error
\napproach in the policy-making process,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sarbini Somawinata, former rector of the University of
\nIndonesia, was more severe in his prescription for the
\ngovernment's ailments.<\/p>\n
He said revolutionary changes, and even a coup, may be needed
\nto topple the present government because of its failure in
\ncontaining the threat of disintegration.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur and his government is in fact unable to manage
\nconflicts in Aceh, Ambon and other provinces. The conflicts could
\ntrigger a national disaster if they are not managed well. The
\ncurrent Indonesia needs not a national leadership a la kyai
\n(Muslim elder) but a strong one that is skilled in managing
\nconflict,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Sarbini, also a member of the Indonesian Socialist Party
\n(PSI), warned that the nation was on the verge of disintegrating
\nbecause regional conflicts, unemployment, poverty and other
\neconomic problems were not well managed.<\/p>\n
He said former president Soeharto's sudden resignation in May
\n1998 was the main factor that caused the multicrises.<\/p>\n
\"All sociopolitical infrastructure established over many years
\nafter the country's independence has been annihilated,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Eep Syaifulloh, a political observer from the University of
\nIndonesia, concurred and said an internal opposition within the
\nadministration was needed to give constructive criticism to the
\nPresident.<\/p>\n
\"Internal opposition could be established by political parties
\nsuch as the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate
\nParty (PAN) and the Golkar Party,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Eep also said the questionable policies and laggard response
\nto regional conflict were indications of the government's
\nfragility.<\/p>\n
\"Gus Dur's personality seems 'too compromising' but he has the
\npotential to be authoritarian. He claims he is open to criticism,
\nbut he has never listened to his critics,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Noted historian Ong Hok Ham said the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) could serve as an opposition in line with its control
\nfunction, to ensure a check and balance existed between the
\ngovernment and the legislative body.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, the political tradition since former first
\npresident Sukarno's era until now does not preach about the
\nopposition culture. But an opposition role could be played by the
\nlegislative body,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-durs-govt-fragile-observers-intellectuals-1447893297",
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