Stay home, Mrs. President<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is planning more elaborate
\ntrips abroad, including one to Mexico to attend the APEC summit
\nlater this month and another to attend the Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Cambodia on Nov. 2 to
\nNov. 5. Given the critical domestic situation after the tragic
\nBali bombing, however, we strongly suggest that she remain in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
With the possible exception of the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh
\nin early November, there are a number of problems here at home
\nthat more urgently require her attention, such as following up on
\nthe decision to introduce tighter coordination of the
\nintelligence services. As we have noted, the Bali disaster is one
\nindication of failure within the state's intelligence network.
\nThe President's presence in Jakarta is required to continuously
\nprod the various government agencies assigned to finding the
\nperpetrators of the Bali bombing and bring them to justice.<\/p>\n
With graft allegations being leveled at the attorney general,
\nthe question of appointing a new attorney general naturally
\nbecomes more pressing. After all, how can the issue of terrorism
\nbe intensely pursued if the Attorney General's Office is burdened
\nwith damaging allegations?<\/p>\n
However, the most pressing task that requires the presence of
\nPresident Megawati is the rehabilitation of Bali in the wake of
\nthe Oct. 12 tragedy. Certainly the devastated area needs to be
\nreconstructed as soon as possible and bank loans with easy terms
\nshould be provided to the shopkeepers whose business premises are
\nnow in ruins. But most important of all, the cohesion of the
\nfractured Balinese community needs to be restored since the
\ntraumatic experience of last Saturday night has caused friction
\nand created an atmosphere of suspicion that must not be allowed
\nto fester.<\/p>\n
We are certain that several visits to Bali by the President in
\nthe wake of the Oct. 12 tragedy are required. This rehabilitation
\nprocess will be of significant help in convincing the world that
\nthe healing capacity of the Indonesian political scene is still
\nintact. We therefore believe that the presence of the President
\nat home is urgently required.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stay-home-mrs-president-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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