Keeping the peace<\/p>\n
With the crucial Special Session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) only three days away and, above all, with the
\nmemory of the worst riots in decades still fresh in our minds, it
\nis only fair to say that it is natural for the authorities to be
\nin no mood to risk ruining what they see as their \"national
\nagenda\" toward democratic reform by allowing critics and
\nopponents of the government to disrupt the session.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, strong student opposition to the scheduled
\nSpecial Session of the MPR -- which they distrust for being still
\nfilled with supporters of the Soeharto regime -- certainly does
\nnot help to calm the nerves of the authorities responsible for
\nensuring the smooth progress of the Special Session of the
\nnation's highest policy-making body.<\/p>\n
Still, one might wonder whether the display of so much
\nmilitary might, as can be observed in the heart of the city at
\npresent, is really necessary. Any newly arrived visitor to the
\nIndonesian capital these days can be forgiven for believing he
\nhas landed in a city at war.<\/p>\n
That the potential for conflict and violent clashes exists is
\nbeyond question. As Thursday's mass prayer gathering of tens of
\nthousands of Moslems at the Senayan sports stadium demonstrated,
\nthere are quite a number of Indonesians who support the MPR
\nSpecial Session, whose agenda is centered around setting a date
\nfor the general election next year.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the almost-daily demonstrations by
\nthousands of students in Jakarta and elsewhere show that the
\nnumbers of those who are opposed to the Special Session, or at
\nleast distrust it, are no less considerable. Media reports have
\nmentioned that many of these opposition groups are planning to
\nstage demonstrations -- or even try to occupy the parliament or
\nnearby buildings -- while the MPR is in session deliberating
\nrulings on the next general and presidential elections.<\/p>\n
That such a scenario could invite clashes between those who
\nare for and those who are against the MPR Special Session needs
\nno saying. Perhaps a recent comment made by a former student
\nactivist, Moh. Jumhur Hidayat, who is now a researcher at a
\nthink-tank affiliated to the Association of Indonesian Moslem
\nIntellectuals (ICMI), formerly chaired by President B.J. Habibie,
\nbest describes the situation. \"The situation now,\" according to
\nJumhur, \"is different from the one that existed previously, when
\nthe people had one common enemy: Soeharto. Now there are those
\nwho are against Habibie, but there are also a lot of people who
\nsupport him.\"<\/p>\n
Interestingly, those who oppose the MPR gathering and are
\ndemanding the establishment of a transitional government to
\nreplace the present Habibie administration, and those who support
\nthe Assembly's Special Session and support Habibie have managed
\nto avoid confrontation thus far. Indeed, calls on both sides have
\nbeen made to eschew clashes and bloodshed and see to it that the
\nwar remains one of words rather than physical blows.<\/p>\n
It may not be too far from the truth to say that this is
\nperhaps because, so far, the visible controversy does not really
\nconcern the most crucial principle of democratic reform -- which
\nall factions in the reformist camp essentially support -- but
\nrather the method by which this can be most effectively achieved.
\nThe pro-MPR, pro-Habibie camp ostensibly believes that the course
\ncharted out by the government and the House of Representatives
\nprovides the best guarantees for the attainment of their
\naspirations. Among the opposition, clearly the big factor is
\ntheir distrust of all that has past associations with Soeharto's
\ncorrupt and autocratic New Order regime, including the MPR and
\nHabibie.<\/p>\n
This being the case, it would seem that the best, most
\npeaceful, most effective and simplest way to prevent
\ndestructiveness and violence during the MPR Special Session is by
\ngiving clear indications that the drive toward real democratic
\nreform which the students and intellectuals have spearheaded will
\nnot be betrayed.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/keeping-the-peace-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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