Newly formed reform team greeted with thumbs down<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A new national team of respected experts
\nassigned to prioritize the recovery of public trust has met with
\nskepticism despite denials that it is a mere trick to favor those
\nin power.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais, chairman of the National Mandate Party and Koento
\nWibisono, the head of alumni of the noted Gadjah Mada University
\nin Yogyakarta, were separately commenting on the team officiated
\nFriday by President B.J. Habibie.<\/p>\n
Historian Taufik Abdullah, philosopher Franz Magnis-Suseno,
\nand foreign exchange analyst Theo F. Toemion are among 100
\nrespected figures who have joined the National Reform Team
\ntowards a Civil Society.<\/p>\n
With a government to end in a matter of months, Amien said,
\n\"Habibie's government should place priority on carrying through
\nthe decrees of the General Session (of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly) such as investigation of corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism of Soeharto and his cronies, guarantee a free and fair
\nelections and resolve the problem of scarce and expensive basic
\ngoods.\"<\/p>\n
He made the comments on the team chaired by Minister of
\nCooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises, Adi Sasono, after
\nbeing installed as professor at the university.<\/p>\n
He has said he will request a leave from his position as a
\ncivil servant at the university, as required by the new ruling on
\ncivil servants, to concentrate on his party.<\/p>\n
The statement of the team, whose patron is the President, had
\nsaid it had no pretensions about providing a final formula given
\nincreasingly complex problems facing Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The team seeks to modify, among other things, the harmful long
\nterm effects of \"the centralization of power\" and economic
\ninequality. Adi said after the ceremony that the team \"was not
\ndesigned to uphold the status quo.\"<\/p>\n
The set up of another \"abstract team,\" like previous others,
\nwould only add to unrealized promises, Amien said.<\/p>\n
The presidential decree stated the team was to accommodate
\nthoughts on transformation of economics, politics, law, society
\nand culture, \"and anticipation of the impacts of globalization.\"<\/p>\n
It would then recommend policies to the President.<\/p>\n
Amien cited the earlier team to ensure national security and
\norder. \"Usually those institutions don't have any follow up
\nmeasures,\" he said. After it was set up a few months ago the task
\nof the earlier team is yet to be clear.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Kunto said the team's set up, by a presidential
\ndecree and reportedly suggested by the president's aides, was
\n\"very naive and belittles the reform movement.\"<\/p>\n
He added the team was only set up to ensure the status quo,
\ndespite the chairman's denial.<\/p>\n
The team's advisory board is chaired by Adi and its 21 members
\ninclude a brother of the president, businessman J.E. Habibie,
\nMinister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
\nWiranto and another 12 ministers, and military columnist
\nSayidiman Suryohadiprodjo.<\/p>\n
Several members of the Association of Muslim Intellectuals
\n(ICMI), once chaired by Habibie, are in the team's seven groups.<\/p>\n
Four executives are all presidential advisors and are chaired
\nby Sofian Effendi.<\/p>\n
Economist Didik J. Rachbini and an executive of the National
\nDevelopment Planning Board, Gunawan Soemodiningrat, as well as
\nTheo, are in the economic reform group, coordinated by M. Dawam
\nRahardjo.<\/p>\n
The socio-cultural reform group, coordinated by historian
\nTaufik, includes noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid.<\/p>\n
Legal expert Lobby Loeqman is in the legal reform group, while
\nnoted educator Arief Rahman lines up for educational reform.<\/p>\n
Political scientist Ichlasul Amal appears in the political
\nreform team coordinated by Armed Forces Chief for Territorial
\nAffairs, Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Other teams are those
\nfocusing on industry and technology and institutional reforms.<\/p>\n
In his address on Friday the President said he had welcomed
\nsuggestions from various parties to form the team, these coming
\nreportedly from his advisors.<\/p>\n
\"I think the setting up of this team is highly urgent, because
\nshortly after the elections of June 7 this year, various elements
\nin the country will have to draw up a vision of the new
\nIndonesia.\" (prb\/anr\/23)<\/p>",
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