Radicals on the move?<\/p>\n
After what has seemed to many observers like a rather
\nprotracted period of indecision, it appears President B.J.
\nHabibie has now acquired the necessary self-confidence to launch
\na convincing counteroffensive against his critics and antagonists
\nand build himself a base solid enough at least to complete the
\ndaunting task of restarting the nation on its way to economic
\nrecovery. To be precise, Habibie's initial, often wavering, steps
\nin that direction have been evident for some time. But it was
\nonly on Tuesday that the latest design of his political strategy
\nwas revealed.<\/p>\n
The stage setting seemed ideal, the timing flawless. Presiding
\nover ceremonies to mark the 53rd anniversary of the Indonesian
\nArmed Forces (ABRI), Habibie warned the assembled military and
\ncivilian dignitaries, plus the millions of viewers watching the
\ntelevised transmission, that groups of radical and revolutionary
\nelements were beginning to emerge to threaten the nation.
\nOrdering the military to take proactive measures to counter those
\ngroups, Habibie warned that \"slowly, there is a trend among some
\nsmall groups in society that shows the emergence of seeds of
\nradical and revolutionary movements which claim to speak and act
\nfor the reform movement\". Several leaders of the movement had
\nplanned and carried out destructive and unconstitutional actions
\nin an attempt to force their will on the people, he added,
\nwithout naming names.<\/p>\n
The President expressed the hope that \"the purity of the
\nnation's current reform campaign can be safeguarded so that it
\nwill not be tarnished by the maneuvers of radical and
\nrevolutionary groups\". Such steps, he said, were necessary to
\nhalt actions and movements by individuals or groups openly
\nworking to create an uncontrollable, unsafe and unstable
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
The patent irony of the situation aside -- Habibie came to
\npower in May through precisely such \"radical\" and \"revolutionary\"
\nmovements that brought down his predecessor, Soeharto -- there is
\nno question that order and stability must be preserved if
\npolitical life is to proceed and the economy is to be revived.
\nHowever, one might question, as many observers do, the wisdom of
\nHabibie's invoking the threat of radicals and revolutionaries to
\nachieve this purpose. Indeed, in the present Indonesian context,
\nthe casting of vague allegations -- insinuations might be a
\nbetter word -- such as those made by Habibie could put the
\ncurrent reform movement in danger.<\/p>\n
It is no secret that many of the students who brought about
\nthe downfall of Soeharto's New Order regime are dissatisfied with
\nthe progress of the reform program under Habibie. Some student
\nleaders have openly voiced their opposition to the President and
\nproposed that he be replaced by a national \"people's committee\".
\nIn the meantime, allegations of the student movement being
\ninfiltrated by radicals and revolutionaries, or even communists,
\nare bandied about by a growing number of officials and Habibie
\nsupporters. Under the circumstances, it is difficult to avoid the
\nimpression that such allegations are being deliberately
\ndisseminated to justify a possible crackdown on the student-led
\nreform movement. Most frightening of all about this scenario is
\nthat if it actually materializes, it would not be difficult to
\nimagine the country slowly sliding back toward repression.<\/p>\n
While it may be rash to simply dismiss the allegations of
\nradicalism as nonsense, the government needs to come up with
\ndetailed proof of its assertions. Unless it does so, the
\ndenunciations will only encourage mutual distrust and animosity
\nin the community and lay the foundation for a return of the old
\nrepressive political culture. We should by now have learned the
\nmost telling lesson of the recent past. If genuine stability is
\nto prevail, the best way to ensure it is not by repression and
\nstigmatizing opponents, but by guaranteeing that the program for
\ndemocratic reforms is kept on track and that the democratic
\naspirations of the population are heeded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/radicals-on-the-move-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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