Habibie's urgent tasks<\/p>\n
In times of crisis such as now, the government must move with
\nboth firmness and speed. There is no other option for the Habibie
\ngovernment but to finish at least two urgent tasks. First, it
\nmust stick to the reform agenda already agreed upon. The passing
\nof new political laws, the holding of a People's Consultative
\nAssembly's (MPR) special session, the holding of general
\nelections and a convening of the MPR general session next year
\nmust follow the time schedule already planned. Second, the
\ngovernment must settle all the important outstanding issues it
\nhas promised to resolve. The abduction of political activists,
\nthe May riots, the atrocities that have been committed in a
\nnumber of provinces and the eradication of corruption, including
\nthe promised investigation into (ex-president) Soeharto's wealth
\nare some of those issues. They are part of the government's debt
\nto the people.<\/p>\n
Those two agendas must be attacked simultaneously. Delaying
\neither of them would only aggravate the problems at hand.
\nFinishing those two agendas will not guarantee that the economic
\ncrisis, which is already more than a year old, can be overcome
\nsoon. However, it would help restore the public's confidence in
\nthe government. If all those issues can be settled soon and
\nsatisfactorily, the government's legitimacy will be established.
\nWithout such legitimacy, no economic program, however excellent,
\nwill help.<\/p>\n
The present lack of legitimacy is providing ammunition for
\nopponents to undermine Habibie's government. It would be naive to
\nbelieve that those opposing groups do not have a political
\nagenda. On the other hand, Habibie's supporters, too, are certain
\nto have agendas of their own. Whatever political targets are
\ninvolved, though, it would be sad if the people must become the
\nvictims of this rivalry.<\/p>\n
-- Republika, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/habibies-urgent-tasks-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }