Reformist cause is still swaying<\/p>\n
The pendulum of truth will continue swaying until Oct. 20,
\n1999, when a new president is elected and a new era will begin,
\nthe second era of reform and deformation. The choice is at the
\nhands of the people's representatives who are holding a General
\nSession at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) building. But
\nthe judges are somewhere else. It began on the streets, but
\nhopefully it will not end on the streets.<\/p>\n
If the prime movers of the political reform -- the majority of
\nstudents and concerned citizens, who supported the removal of the
\nformer dictator-in-disguise -- feel that the final democratic act
\ndoes not meet their expectations and aspirations, the final round
\nmay be fought outside the MPR building. After all, the reform
\nrevolution has not ended.<\/p>\n
The question now is: Do we still have enough unselfish,
\nidealistic \"soldiers of conscience\" (reformist students) or have
\nthey, too, been consumed by greedy materialism? Have the number
\nof cowards, hypocrites and opportunists become larger? The demand
\nto bring the former head of state to justice for abuse of power
\nand corruption cannot possibly be buried in a simple ceremony by
\nthe attorney general. The most valuable trump card of the
\nreformist camp just crumbled like a paper tiger. Accepting bribes
\nin an insult to democracy and destroys the aspirations, if not
\nthe soul, of the younger generation.<\/p>\n
Habibie's latest move to choose a military man, the commander
\nof the Indonesian Military\/minister of defense and security, as
\nhis running mate only reveals his allegiance to the former
\nregime. With Akbar Tandjung as the House speaker, the former
\n\"status quo\" team seems to be once again physically complete. The
\nwinner of the recent general election, Megawati, has no place in
\nthe minds of former Soeharto loyalists or in the new system. What
\nis in the mind of MPR speaker Amien Rais?<\/p>\n
If the MPR speaker is a really a reformist and is concerned
\nabout the looming in the horizon of the old-style reformist in
\ntheory but oppressive and undemocratic in practice, he should do
\nsomething to avert it. Otherwise he should resign. Hopefully,
\ndevelopments will not turn out that grave. Fortunately, things
\nare still fluid. But any president that holds executive power
\nmust have a working majority in the House to effectively pass any
\nlegislation. Whether we want it or not, the ultimate judges, when
\nthe hour of truth finally strikes and the new president is
\nelected, will lie with the true reformists, especially the
\nstudents.<\/p>\n
It is now more imperative that the people be given the right
\nto elect their president directly, and not through the slow
\nprocess of the MPR allowing for political manipulation and
\nintrigue, including bribery. Just as imperative is that the
\nexecutive power and the legislative branch be equally strong and
\ndedicated to the cause of people's welfare. Remember that up to
\n70 percent of the population has sunk below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reformist-cause-is-still-swaying-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }