Rudini welcomes national dialog plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former President Soeharto's close aide, Rudini,
\nyesterday welcomed the proposal for a national dialog to discuss
\nsolutions for the ongoing monetary crisis, but reminded the
\nnation that the President would not turn a blind eye on the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
Rudini, former Minister of Home Affairs, said must have
\nanticipated the impact of the state currency rupiah depreciation.<\/p>\n
"President Soeharto must have made all necessary preparations
\nto anticipate even the worst situation," he told reporters at his
\noffice.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the proposal for a national dialog, he said the
\nidea of letting people share their opinions on state affairs and
\nideas in time of crisis was an urgent thing to do now.<\/p>\n
"The national dialog should be held within a short period of
\ntime as we will have an important event, the general meeting of
\nthe People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) next March," he said.<\/p>\n
He was responding to a proposal by secretary-general of the
\nAssociation of the Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) Adi
\nSasono that the government invite all elements in society,
\nincluding influential public figures to altogether seek solutions
\nfor the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
"It's not a proper time to stamp outspoken public figures as
\nanti-government or extremists anymore," he said, "They have the
\nrights to share their opinions and ideas, too."<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, deputy House Speaker Syarwan Hamid did not
\nexplicitly support Adi Sasono's idea, but said the time has now
\ncome for the nation to leave all disputes behind and demand a
\ndialog to look for solutions of the protracted monetary crisis.<\/p>\n
"It's dangerous if a dialog is banned. Instead, the more we
\nencourage dialogs with various people, the more we gather ideas,"
\nSyarwan said.<\/p>\n
He suggested the government to listen to as many people as
\npossible because it could not solve the country's problems alone.<\/p>\n
"The truths are now scattered everywhere, thanks to the
\ngrowing number of intellectuals. The government must talk to as
\nmany people as possible, particularly to discover the hidden
\ntruths," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the dialog would also help the government know more
\nabout the public's expectations.<\/p>\n
Rudini, now chairman of an informal military think tank, the
\nInstitute for Strategic Studies of Indonesia, said what the
\ncountry now needed was concrete actions to settle the crisis.<\/p>\n
"People are now concerned with the continuous price hike,
\nespecially when the post fasting month Idul Fitri celebration is
\napproaching," he said, "They're less interested in politics now."<\/p>\n
He suggested that government officials should give good
\nexamples of their attitude and be serious in eradicating pungli
\n(illegal levies).<\/p>\n
"Such good examples and serious eradication of illegal levies
\nwill at least reduce the people's heated tension due to the price
\nhike of their basic needs," he said. (imn\/amd)<\/p>",
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