Professionals take a stand at the JSX<\/p>\n
By Ati Nurbaiti<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The crowd which arrived at the lobby of the
\nJakarta Stock Exchange last week did not look much different than
\nthe dealers inside in their blazers and ties. But they had
\nclearly come with a different intention. They began to sing and
\ngradually attracted more and more attention.<\/p>\n
These people were from a variety of groups including the
\nIndonesian Professional Society (MPI) and the Professionals'
\nSolidarity for Reform group (SPUR). They were objecting to the
\nGolkar Party's proposed B.J. Habibie-Gen. Wiranto duo for the new
\nterm.<\/p>\n
Popular political commentator and talk show host Wimar
\nWitoelar was there. Economist Faisal Basri of the National
\nMandate Party (PAN) showed up and so did Matori Abdul Djalil of
\nthe National Awakening Party (PKB). Matori is the new deputy
\nspeaker of the People's Consultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
For some 30 minutes the bourse's transactions stopped because
\nthe crowd and spectators crowded the stairs.<\/p>\n
\"We are small in number but we have much influence,\" Faisal
\ntold the crowd. \"Let's fill up Jl. Sudirman with our cars and
\nhonk three times to say 'No' to Habibie and Wiranto.\"<\/p>\n
Matori said he supported suggestions for a strike, a statement
\nwhich provoked outrage from legislators who said Matori, as the
\ndeputy speaker, was not acting in an ethical manner. But the next
\nday the rally continued in larger numbers and former activist and
\neconomist Syahrir addressed the jubilant crowd.<\/p>\n
It was not the first time a demonstration was staged at the
\nStock Exchange, a symbol of the country's professionals borne out
\nof what was then a promising economy.<\/p>\n
\"It was largely unplanned,\" says Sita Supomo, one of MPI's
\nfounders.<\/p>\n
\"We had been talking about such a demonstration for some time
\nand we had reflected, how come not enough professionals seemed to
\ncare?\" she told The Jakarta Post recently. In spite of having
\nconducted talks and a few rallies, Sita said it was \"still not
\neasy\" to gather concerned professionals.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know why, maybe it's fear, maybe it's the feeling
\nthat their only contribution should be to keep the wheel of the
\neconomy turning.\"<\/p>\n
The forum was established last year and has grown since then.
\n\"Our numbers? I don't know. We are an e-mail community and we're
\nnot an organization,\" said the former marketing executive with an
\ninternational company.<\/p>\n
E-mails on activities are sent across with the message \"If
\nyou're concerned, come,\" Sita said.<\/p>\n
Though small in number, Sita said more and more participants
\nat their activities seemed to have been influenced by the
\n\"conducive\" condition of continuing scandals, continued violence,
\nand at the last gathering -- Habibie's accountability speech.<\/p>\n
Group awareness was also built up in earlier months through
\nthe holding of discussions with political parties and hearings
\nwith legislators.<\/p>\n
\"The Bank Bali scandal was a real insult to professionals,
\nregarding the intervention (by the political elite),\" Sita said.<\/p>\n
On the morning when Habibie announced that he \"could not
\nafford to accept the nomination\" for a second term after his
\naccountability speech was rejected, the protesters were happy and
\nwished the new president well.<\/p>\n
As his colleagues distributed roses, rally participant and
\npart time investor Boris Sirait cautioned: \"But we will continue
\nto watch out whether reform is carried out.\"<\/p>\n
The rallies by the professionals were small in number and
\nthere was no plan to go out onto the streets. The timing was
\nlimited to the lunch hour. Hence, there was no need for employees
\nto gather up their courage and tell their bosses that they needed
\ntime out to protest. Nevertheless, all this was radical enough,
\nand the building's management was reportedly upset and worried
\nabout the gathering.<\/p>\n
Actions involving urbanites are taken for granted in countries
\nsuch as the Philippines and Thailand. Here, the country's white
\ncollar workers only came out in droves when the crisis drove
\nthousands of them out of work.<\/p>\n
Asked whether such countries were an inspiration for the
\ngroup, Boris said, \"No, don't make such a comparison, we're
\nnothing yet.\"<\/p>\n
He argued that in comparison to Indonesia, the Philippines and
\nThailand had relatively short terms of authoritarian governments.<\/p>\n
For professionals such as Boris, who expressed feelings in
\nrallies only shortly before Soeharto quit the presidency last
\nyear, the decision to organize and get involved in such actions
\nwas because \"the risk to the individual had reduced\".<\/p>\n
Professionals had been fully aware that under the New Order,
\nany sign of dissent, no matter how \"fun-looking\" it appeared, was
\nruthlessly crushed. \"People could get abducted or something,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Boris said a willingness to now become involved reflected the
\ndiminishing fears.<\/p>\n
He added that while market indicators should serve as
\nsufficient warning signs to the government, \"the problem is
\nthey've been quite deaf\".<\/p>\n
The participants had distributed a press release which in part
\nread: \"We express congratulations and gratitude for the
\nparticipation of professionals in actions of concern to convey
\nrejection toward Habibie's accountability and his proposed
\n(second) term. This reflects the concern of professionals toward
\nthe survival of the nation.\"<\/p>\n
Amid ongoing political wrangling among the elite who seek the
\nreturn of favors, professionals also stated: \"We continue to
\nremind representatives that the status quo forces involved in
\ncorruption, collusion and nepotism and rights abuses in the past,
\nshould not be given a chance to be part of the new government.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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