Reform loses its direction<\/p>\n
Four years has elapsed since the reform movement kicked off in
\nthis country. Former president Soeharto's resignation from office
\non May 21, 1998, marked the end of the New Order regime and
\nushered in the reform era.<\/p>\n
The birth of the reform era was underlined by the nation's
\nstrong commitment to create a better future in all aspects of
\nlife. A number of basic reform agendas were then voiced that
\ninvolved reforming the political, legal and economic spheres.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, now that four years have passed, the result of
\nthe reform movement has been inadequate. Political reform, for
\nexample, has not only brought about freedom of expression and
\npress freedom, but also political instability.<\/p>\n
Among the elite, efforts to change state leadership have
\napparently become a fixed agenda.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, many conflicts involving people of different
\nethnic groups and religious backgrounds have broken out in Aceh,
\nAmbon, Irian Jaya, and violent political clashes have flared up
\nin many other regions.<\/p>\n
The main agenda of legal reform; to eradicate corruption,
\ncollusion and nepotism (KKN) and to uphold the supremacy of the
\nlaw, has been unsatisfactory in its achievements.<\/p>\n
Economic reform, meanwhile, is the same.<\/p>\n
Levels of social welfare have dropped drastically, while the
\nnumber of school dropouts has risen sharply owing to the
\nprotracted crisis.<\/p>\n
The description referred to above shows that reform is yet to
\nproduce the desired results as originally expected.<\/p>\n
-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reform-loses-its-direction-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }