Observers blast timetable set for general election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The mid-1998 general election timetable set by
\nPresident B.J. Habibie is considered not soon enough and will
\nonly serve to prolong the country's political and economic
\nsuffering, observers said here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Former cabinet minister Emil Salim and political observer
\nDaniel Sparringa of Surabaya's Airlangga University said during a
\nseminar here yesterday that the government's decision was
\n\"killing the economy\".<\/p>\n
\"The government should hold the general election as soon as
\npossible since this is the only thing which can return business
\nto its normal capacity,\" Emil told a discussion.<\/p>\n
The election should be in six months to nine months from now,
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
\"The government should bypass the procedures and announce to
\nthe world that it wants to form a legitimate government as soon
\nas possible.\"<\/p>\n
Daniel argued that uncertainty and questions over President
\nB.J. Habibie's legitimacy would endure until there was a new
\ngovernment elected through a free and fair elections.<\/p>\n
Critics say Habibie and most of his Cabinet ministers are
\nconsidered remnants of the past regime under Soeharto, making
\ninvestors and the international community reluctant to resume
\noperations and full aid here until a truly legitimate government
\nis formed.<\/p>\n
The government confirmed Monday that elections would be held
\nin the middle of next year after the extraordinary session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR), to convene in December,
\nsets a poll date.<\/p>\n
A legitimate government, Daniel said, would win public and
\ninternational confidence, crucial components to revive the ailing
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
The country has been hit by a severe economic crisis since
\nlast July following the drastic depreciation of the rupiah, which
\nin turn prompted a near collapse of the already corroded national
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
Daniel warned that these problem could threaten the country's
\nfledgling democracy.<\/p>\n
Separately, chairman of the 30-million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama
\n(NU) Moslem organization, Abdurrahman Wahid, also questioned the
\ntimeliness of the government's poll date.<\/p>\n
\"It can be held a few months earlier,\" Abdurrahman, who is
\nbetter known as Gus Dur, told the International Monetary Fund
\n(IMF) Asia-Pacific director Hubert Neiss who visited him at his
\nhouse in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said the general election should be held within
\nseven months after the ruling Golkar holds its extraordinary
\nCongress next month.<\/p>\n
Emil also urged the government to form an independent
\ncommittee to investigate allegations that last month's riots were
\norganized.<\/p>\n
He said the government must not play down the brutality of the
\nriots.<\/p>\n
Human rights activists reported that hundreds of Chinese-
\nIndonesian women were sexually abused during the riots, which by
\nsome estimates killed more than 1,200 people.<\/p>\n
\"This must be disclosed although the Armed Forces may be at
\nrisk of dissension and bloodshed,\" senior political scientist
\nMochtar Pabottingi said without elaborating.<\/p>\n
Mochtar, who was a moderator at yesterday's discussion, said
\nthat a clear and open explanation was crucial to uphold the
\ntruth.<\/p>\n
Habibie, while acknowledging the importance of conducting a
\nthorough investigation into the matter, has repeatedly called for
\npublic patience to allow the Armed Forces sufficient time to
\ninvestigate various recent cases and conduct \"internal
\nconsolidation\". (byg\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/observers-blast-timetable-set-for-general-election-1447893297",
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