Political reforms not for barter: Observers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observers said over the weekend that
\nthere should be no bargaining on the urgency of political reforms
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Moslem
\nIntellectuals (ICMI), Adi Sasono, and the University of
\nIndonesia's Yusril Ihza Mahendra said separately on Saturday that
\nany questions over the need for reforms were void.<\/p>\n
Adi, also chairman of the Center for Information and
\nDevelopment Studies (CIDES), an ICMI think tank, sought the
\ngovernment's willingness to let people share opinions on state
\naffairs and ideas in times of crisis.<\/p>\n
"The forum to absorb the people's aspirations could be a
\nnational dialog, seminars or discussions," he told the media
\nafter moderating a seminar on human resources development, held
\nby the Sunda Kelapa Moslem Youths.<\/p>\n
Adi suggested that influential public figures should be
\ninvited to participate in the national dialog, believing it would
\nbe positive for the public in understanding the government's
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
"People will then get the impression that the government is
\nreally willing to listen to their aspirations."<\/p>\n
He also said it could help reduce the people's degree of
\nradicalism.<\/p>\n
He cited the chairman of the 28-million strong Muhammadiyah
\nMoslem organization, Amien Rais, chairman of the 30-million
\nstrong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization Abdurrahman Wahid
\nand the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI),
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri, among the public figures who should be
\ninvited.<\/p>\n
Adi said organization of the forums should rest mainly with
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the monetary crisis could
\nnot be settled through economic reforms alone.<\/p>\n
"We need political rather than economic reforms," he said,
\nadding that the government now needed to regain the people's
\ntrust.<\/p>\n
"The people, including the conglomerates, do not believe the
\ngovernment anymore," he said. "How could they trust the
\ngovernment if it continues to provide privileges to certain
\nindividuals?"<\/p>\n
He said there should be reforms in the country's political
\nsystem, including the bureaucracy, which took the public's
\naspirations into account.<\/p>\n
He added the government should not conceal the "sickness"
\nanymore.<\/p>\n
"It's completely wrong to say that there has been nothing
\nwrong with our country," he said.<\/p>\n
Adi said the gauge of whether the government would be willing
\nto implement reforms would later be seen in the final legislation
\nissued by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
"There shouldn't be any gap between the MPR's products and the
\npeople's aspirations for reforms."<\/p>\n
Members of the 1,000-strong MPR will reconvene next March to
\nelect a president and a vice president, and endorse the 1998\/2003
\nState Policy Guidelines.<\/p>\n
Opposition<\/p>\n
Adi welcomed the idea of establishing an opposition party in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
"Any political reforms should be aimed at establishing the
\n'check-and-balance' mechanism in the political system.<\/p>\n
"The idea of establishing an opposition party is logical and
\nin line with the people's increasing political awareness and
\nglobal challenges of the 21st century. The system of one
\npolitical organization and two political parties might not be
\nappropriate anymore."<\/p>\n
Adi said that establishing an opposition party did not
\nnecessarily mean that there would be only two parties in the
\ncountry's political system -- the ruling party and its
\nopposition.<\/p>\n
"The number of political parties, which function as the
\ncontrolling parties, can be more than one," he said.<\/p>\n
He, however, said that the limitation on the number of
\npolitical parties should occur naturally and not be artificially
\ndecided by those in power.<\/p>\n
"Give the people's freedom to establish their own political
\nparty according to their political aspirations," he said. (imn)<\/p>",
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