More criticism rains down on new Cabinet<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The new cabinet lineup on Thursday again came
\nunder a barrage of criticism from observers and politicians who
\nexpressed misgivings about the Cabinet's ability to cooperate
\nwith the Vice President whom the president has claimed will be
\ntasked with handling the daily affairs of government.<\/p>\n
Most observers remarked that the cabinet was almost wholly
\ncomprised of confidants of President Abdurrahman Wahid with
\nlittle input being drawn from Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Ichlasul Amal, rector of Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity in Yogyakarta, said there would be a \"psychological
\ndistance\" between Megawati and the ministers whom Megawati is not
\nfamiliar with.<\/p>\n
Amal said President Abdurrahman's decision to recruit \"his
\nmen\" was, however, constitutionally correct. But, he said, the
\nPresident will now have to face political consequences from
\ndisgruntled elements in the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
\"The President can no longer blame his ministers for not being
\nloyal enough to him, or for lacking coordination if in the future
\nthey fail to perform well,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But Amal also speculated that Abdurrahman might have his own
\nplan with the surprising composition of the cabinet saying \"maybe
\nGus Dur wants ministers whom he or Megawati can easily control.\"<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) Deputy Secretary-General Pramono Anung claimed
\nMegawati seemed disappointed with the composition of the new
\nCabinet.<\/p>\n
\"It (her disappointment) could be seen from her body
\nlanguage,\" Pramono told reporters on Thursday.<\/p>\n
But he denied that the disappointment would create deeper
\nfriction between Megawati and Abdurrahman.<\/p>\n
He accused Gus Dur, as the President is popularly known, of
\nviolating political ethics by not accommodating the major
\npolitical parties which support him.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan Secretary-General Soetjipto also doubted that
\nMegawati was involved in the drafting of the final Cabinet lineup
\nand may have only provided input concerning the cabinet
\nstructure.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati was not fully involved in the formation of the
\nCabinet,\" Soetjipto, who is also deputy speaker of the People's
\nConsultative Assembly, said.<\/p>\n
He rejected the view that a widening rift would emerge as
\nMegawati was loyal and would continue to work for the sake of the
\nnation.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati can work together with people from different
\nbackgrounds, not just with people from the same party,\" he said.<\/p>\n
From Semarang, Central Java, Diponegoro University political
\nobserver Tri Cahyo Utomo said the new cabinet was weak in the
\npolitical and economical fields because it was dominated by
\ncadres from the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the military.<\/p>\n
\"The resistance against the cabinet will be much greater as
\ntwo major parties, Golkar and PDI Perjuangan, are not
\nrepresented,\" Tri said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Jendral Soedirman University Rector Rubiyanto Misman
\nsaid Abdurrahman was putting everything on the line by not
\ninvolving the political parties in the new cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"If later on, the cabinet fails to prove that it can work
\nwell, then it will be the end for Abdurrahman,\" Rubiyanto told
\nThe Jakarta Post in Purwokerto, Central Java on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
\ncondemned the appointment of Lt.Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono whom they alleged may have been involved in the
\nnotorious July 27, 1996 attack of the PDI Perjuangan headquarters
\nin Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"His new post in the government, gives him a strategic
\nposition and influence in the decision-making process. It is now
\ndoubtful if he will undergo legal investigation,\" PBHI Chairman
\nHendardi said in a written statement.<\/p>\n
The Deputy Secretary General of the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN) Bara Hasibuan said Abdurrahman had abused the public's
\ntrust and the presidential prerogative in determining the cabinet
\nlineup.<\/p>\n
\"This is very dangerous, because he made a political bargain
\nat the expense of the public which will assuredly lead to public
\ndistrust. We will not have conducive conditions for economic
\nrecovery,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Adm. Widodo A.S. said
\nthat TNI will fully support the new cabinet.<\/p>\n
\"TNI will give total support to the new cabinet appointed by
\nthe government. The main objective of this support is to
\nencourage the government in solving the crisis and creating more
\nconducive conditions in the country,\" a statement from TNI
\nHeadquarters quoted Widodo as saying on Thursday.<\/p>\n
On the appointment of Mahfud MD as the new defense minister
\nreplacing Juwono Sudarsono, Widodo said that the government
\ntrusted Mahfud to concentrate on determining main defense
\npolicies and improving the professionalism of the military.<\/p>\n
\"TNI will have a good and cooperative relationship with
\nwhoever is appointed as defense minister,\" Widodo said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto said that
\nTNI will accept anyone as defense minister as long as he can
\ncooperate with the military.<\/p>\n
\"For us, whoever the minister of defense is makes no
\ndifference as long as we can cooperate well together in creating
\na system of defense and in implementing defense strategies,\"
\nTyasno said. (44\/45\/har\/jun\/dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-criticism-rains-down-on-new-cabinet-1447893297",
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