Proreform leaders must learn to compromise<\/p>\n
The clock on political reform has been ticking away since the
\nresignation of president Soeharto on May 21. Hermawan Sulistyo, a
\npolitical researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences and
\nexecutive director of the Research Institute for Democracy and
\nPeace, discusses what progress has been made.<\/p>\n
Question: Do you think the progress of political reform has
\nbeen as fast as expected by students and intellectuals?<\/p>\n
Answer: No. The government and the House of Representatives (DPR)
\nhave been trying to meet reformers' demands for the eradication of
\ncorrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices, but they are too
\nslow in the structural adjustment of the country's political
\nsystem, which will include the amendment of political laws, the
\norganization of a free and fair general election and the holding
\nof a general session for properly recruited members of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Deteriorating economic
\nconditions actually seem unviable for the delay of all these
\nprocesses of political structural adjustment until after the end
\nof this year, but the government and DPR are apparently trying to
\nslow down the processes.<\/p>\n
I am afraid that if the processes... cannot be completed by
\nDecember, sporadic rioting and crimes... will increase
\nthroughout the country.<\/p>\n
Q: What is impeding the advance of political structural
\nadjustment?<\/p>\n
A: The problem is the government's reluctance to accelerate the
\nstructural adjustment for the reason that it wants to concentrate
\nmore on the improvement of economic conditions.<\/p>\n
The real reason is actually the government wants to retain its
\npower after the structural adjustment. Almost all members of the
\ncurrent cabinet, except Tanri Abeng and Panangian Siregar, for
\nexample, are trying to collect credit points for public
\npopularity. Minister of Justice Muladi, for instance, is trying
\nto obtain popularity by releasing political prisoners and
\ndetainees, Minister of Cooperatives Adi Sasono by allocating
\ncredits for cooperatives and small businesses, Minister of
\nManpower Fahmi Idris by allowing the establishment of new trade
\nunions and Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus by amending
\nregulations on press licensing.<\/p>\n
Political forces outside the current political system are
\nalso trying to use the coming seven months to build up political
\nstrength, so they can take part in the general election...<\/p>\n
Q: How do students and intellectuals respond to the slow
\nprogress?<\/p>\n
A: Many of them are not content because they actually want the
\npolitical reform as a one-stop process of political
\ntransformation to include the replacement of the president and
\nhis cabinet, as well as the adjustment of the political system.<\/p>\n
Some are content with the slow progress, realizing that such a
\nreform process cannot be accomplished in under a year, while some
\nothers are now partisans by supporting certain political
\nforces...<\/p>\n
Q: How do you see the stance of the Armed Forces (ABRI)?<\/p>\n
A: ABRI will maintain its wait-and-see stance because it is
\nreally in a very difficult position. If it takes a severe action
\nagainst demonstrating students, for example, demonstrations on a
\nlarger scale would certainly erupt in the following days.<\/p>\n
Q: How can we settle disputes among proreform activists, whose
\ncomments and sporadic demonstrations have caused political
\nuncertainty?<\/p>\n
A: I think ABRI can play an active role by forcing all the
\ndisputing leaders of proreform activists to gather in a hall for
\ndiscussions... ABRI personnel and university students should
\nguard them... and not allow any of them to quit the discussions
\nbefore a consensus is reached. In this way of national
\nreconciliation, I think disputes can be settled and reform
\nprocedures can be formulated in less than a month.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you expect the reform process to proceed even if the
\ncurrent government retains power after the planned election?<\/p>\n
A: I don't think there will be anybody who can stop the rolling
\nball of reform... people's interests will be better served.<\/p>\n
However, if Habibie maintains power, the reform progress will
\nslow down and many aspects related to the old (Soeharto) regime
\nwill not be able to be reformed...<\/p>\n
Q: How far are you involved in the reform process?<\/p>\n
A: I am involved in one of the two major teams currently
\nformulating recommendations for the amendment of political laws.
\nOne of the teams, led by Mochtar Pabottingi, groups 15 political
\nresearchers of LIPI, while the other, established by the Ministry
\nof Home Affairs, groups academicians led by Ryaas Rasyid of the
\nstate-run Institute of Administration Sciences.<\/p>\n
Q: Do you see any grooming of national leaders?<\/p>\n
A: No. Proreform students are even against any effort to appoint
\nleaders or figures. However, I see many figures having the
\npotential to become national leaders, such as Ichlasul Amal from
\nGadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. (riz)<\/p>",
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