{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1314465,
        "msgid": "last-minute-appeal-from-denpasar-1447893297",
        "date": "2000-07-04 00:00:00",
        "title": "Last minute appeal from Denpasar",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "Last minute appeal from Denpasar If the purpose of the appeal from Denpasar, Bali, by the cream of the country's intellectuals and influential elite that the nation return to the reform track was to attract the media's attention and be widely spread among the population, the objective has been more than achieved judging from the intensive press coverage of the event.",
        "content": "<p>Last minute appeal from Denpasar<\/p>\n<p>If the purpose of the appeal from Denpasar, Bali, by the cream<br>\nof the country's intellectuals and influential elite that the<br>\nnation return to the reform track was to attract the media's<br>\nattention and be widely spread among the population, the<br>\nobjective has been more than achieved judging from the intensive<br>\npress coverage of the event.<\/p>\n<p>But if one expects the government and society, notably the<br>\nPresident, to dramatically change course following the Denpasar<br>\nrecommendations and warning of an impending second national<br>\neconomic crisis, they may be disappointed.<\/p>\n<p>President Abdurrahman Wahid himself has already indicated that<br>\nthe \"real culprits must be sought among members of the People's<br>\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives<br>\n(DPR)\" who are planning to get rid of him. What follows is a list<br>\nof names of people reportedly on the waiting list to be arrested.<\/p>\n<p>How incredible it must sound that the man who championed the<br>\ncause of democracy following the repressive era under former<br>\npresident Soeharto, should now himself resort to dictatorial<br>\nmethods, at least in intentions. This is clearly a drawback from<br>\nthe reform process which the Denpasar Forum intended to guard<br>\nthrough their 11th hour dialog before the MPR convenes in August<br>\nthis year.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the people who spoke in Denpasar and sounded various<br>\nwarnings spoke earlier about the same or identical themes, but in<br>\nless dramatic fashion. Nurcholish Madjid, one of the leaders<br>\nbehind the forum, has been charged with giving too early a sign<br>\nthat Abdurrahman should be allowed to finish his term despite his<br>\nmany controversial statements. Such decision would be more<br>\nappropriately taken by the MPR\/DPR.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that the forum was convened to discus urgent national<br>\nissues and suggest solutions could be seen as a break in the<br>\nlink between the country's formal leaders and intellectuals.<\/p>\n<p>The initiative to hold a consultative meeting at the 11th hour<br>\non such a grand scale, nevertheless, is commendable if after a<br>\nperiod of say three months the course of impending calamity can<br>\nbe changed. Most importantly, if the Soeharto case can be settled<br>\nand foreign investors' interest restored, economic restructuring<br>\ncan move again.<\/p>\n<p>GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n<p>Jakarta<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/last-minute-appeal-from-denpasar-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}