Leading figures must unite to fight crisis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observer Franz Magnis Suseno says it
\nis high time nationalist figures and religious leaders put their
\ndifferences aside and join forces to help the country cope with
\nthe various crises facing it today.<\/p>\n
Speaking in support of the call for a \"national coalition\",
\nthe professor of social philosophy at Jakarta's Driyarkara School
\nof Philosophy said figures like Abdurrahman Wahid, Amien Rais and
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri should unite to promote reform.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman is chairman of the 30 million-strong Nahdlatul
\nUlama (NU) Moslem organization while Amien Rais leads the 28
\nmillion-strong Muhammadiyah, and Megawati is the ousted leader of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party. The three have long been viewed
\nas government critics.<\/p>\n
\"If such a coalition could be developed, they could shed hope
\nfor political and economic reforms,\" Magnis told a discussion on
\nChristmas reflection.<\/p>\n
Magnis was quick to point out, however, that the coalition
\nshould be a moral force rather than one that is established to
\nretaliate against political foes.<\/p>\n
\"The coalition must be positive... not a kind of (effort of)
\nvengeance or whatsoever,\" Magnis said.<\/p>\n
The coalition should be aimed at fighting moral illnesses such
\nas corruption and collusion which are believed to be the cause of
\nthe country's severe social, economic and political crises.<\/p>\n
\"Greed, lies and corruption have been prevailing too long in
\nthe country and this must be stopped,\" Magnis said, adding that
\npeople have also realized these moral illnesses must be
\nterminated.<\/p>\n
He feared the ongoing crises would only cause poverty in the
\ncountry to worsen.<\/p>\n
According to 1996 statistics, 22.5 million people were living
\nbelow the poverty line. Official records also said that 1.4
\nmillion people have lost their jobs because of the monetary
\ncrisis, bringing the number of unemployed to 5.8 million.<\/p>\n
Social observer Mochtar Buchori told The Jakarta Post
\nyesterday the plunge of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar showed
\nthat people have lost confidence in the government.<\/p>\n
\"We need new faces, new personalities, new trust and new
\nconfidence,\" Mochtar said, referring to reforms in state
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
About 20 students and youth activists staged a peaceful
\nprotest yesterday demanding swift government action to overcome
\nthe economic crisis and the installation of a new president and
\ncabinet.<\/p>\n
Plainclothes security officers watched as the group unfurled
\nbanners and chanted protest slogans at a monument on Jl. H.R.
\nRasuna Said in South Jakarta that commemorates the establishment
\nof the New Order government in 1966.<\/p>\n
\"The government has failed to fix the economy, so the cabinet
\nshould be reshuffled. A new president is needed to restore
\nconfidence,\" a member of the Pijar group of students said. (10)<\/p>",
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