Gus Dur's pledge of zero tolerance gets wary support<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior political observer greeted on Monday
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid's pledge of zero tolerance in
\nimplementing a reform agenda with reservations saying that
\n\"violence must be avoided at all costs\".<\/p>\n
\"A humanistic approach must continue and the use of violence
\nmust be avoided at all costs,\" Soedjati Djiwandono told The
\nJakarta Post in a telephone interview.<\/p>\n
Soedjati was commenting on Abdurrahman's statement on Saturday
\nthat he would abandon a \"humanistic approach\" and opt for harsher
\nlegal measures against elements of the New Order.<\/p>\n
The President said tougher measures would be taken against
\nremnants of the past regime claiming that they had wasted the
\nopportunity \"to repent, learn their lessons and regain public
\nconfidence\".<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman then accused New Order elements of abusing his
\ntolerance and attempting to stage a political comeback by
\nsabotaging the reform movement.<\/p>\n
\"President Abdurrahman Wahid is now starting to experience
\ndifficulty in convincing the public that his political decision
\nto treat the past regime humanely was the right decision,\" the
\nSaturday's statement said.<\/p>\n
\"It turns out that several prominent members of the New Order
\nare in fact unwilling to listen to popular aspirations and it
\nseems that they are intentionally trying to impede the reform
\nagenda,\" the statement said.<\/p>\n
It then said that the situation leaves Abdurrahman with only
\none option \"which is to implement a reform agenda with zero
\ntolerance\".<\/p>\n
The statement came amid the House of Representatives' ongoing
\ninvestigation into two financial scandals in which the President
\nis allegedly implicated.<\/p>\n
The two are the Rp 35 billion (US$3.6 million) scandal
\ninvolving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) last year and the $2
\nmillion scandal revolving around a donation from the Sultan of
\nBrunei that the President claimed was a personal gift to be used
\nfor humanitarian assistance in the rebellious province of Aceh.<\/p>\n
Soedjati said that Abdurrahman's pledge of zero tolerance \"in
\nprinciple\" was \"a good approach\".<\/p>\n
He was quick to add, however, that before implementing the
\napproach, Abdurrahman must first prove that his administration
\nwas also clean.<\/p>\n
\"(Abdurrahman) must also prove himself to be a President who
\nleads a good government ... so he must not give the impression
\nthat he himself is involved in any bad dealing or create an
\nimpression of corruption,\" Soedjati said.<\/p>\n
\"So, he has to improve his performance as President and also
\nimprove the performance of his entire government ... this will
\neventually strengthen his position,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Separately, Cholil Bisri, a National Awakening Party (PKB)
\nlegislator, supported Abdurrahman's statement as a spontaneous
\nreaction against alleged attempts to discredit his government.<\/p>\n
\"He (Abdurrahman) is disappointed with Golkar figures' alleged
\ninvolvement in supporting the (ongoing) demand for his
\nresignation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Effendi Choiri, another PKB legislator, admitted that the
\nPresident knew all the parties behind the ongoing attempt to
\ntopple him.<\/p>\n
\"He knows which people are behind the antigovernment
\ndemonstrations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the President was also very disappointed with Attorney
\nGeneral Marzuki's bad performance in the cabinet.<\/p>\n
PKB sources said Marzuki has recently asked the President to
\ngive him six months to improve his performance.<\/p>\n
Deputy Golkar chairman Slamet Effendy Yusuf said his party
\ncould not be held responsible for all the wrongdoings committed
\nby its cadres and the former New Order's regime.<\/p>\n
\"Institutionally, Golkar is not responsible for all the
\nwrongdoings of the New Order regime. And former president
\nSoeharto's regime consisted not only of Golkar figures but also
\nthose from the bureaucracy and the military,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Golkar would have no objections if the present
\ngovernment was stricter against those allegedly involved in
\ncorrupt and collusive practices during the New Order era.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar has and will never prevent the government from
\ninvestigating corruption cases that occurred in the past, nor
\nprotect its cadres and figures who were involved in such cases.
\nAll Golkar cadres and figures must take account individually for
\nany wrongdoings they committed in the past,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked to comment on Marzuki's failure to prosecute all those
\ninvolved in corruption cases and human rights abuses in the past,
\nSlamet said the President should bear in mind that Marzuki is
\npart of his government and a member of his cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"If Marzuki's performance is considered unsatisfactory, there
\nmust be something wrong with the government and it should not be
\nrelated to Golkar. For example, the delayed prosecution of three
\nconglomerates is not Marzuki's policy, but Gus Dur's decision,\"
\nhe said. (byg\/rms)<\/p>",
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