Susilo has decisive advantages in combating corruption<\/p>\n
Wimar Witoelar, Jakarta<\/p>\n
It is actually easy for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take the
\ninitiative in changing the course of the nation away from
\ncorruption and state violence, the twin evils that have beset the
\nnation for as long as we can remember. They say that the fight
\nagainst corruption needs one ingredient to make it successful,
\nand that is political will. We hope Susilo has the political
\nwill, but we know he has immense political power.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid tried to fight corruption and used
\nup two excellent attorneys general, Baharuddin Lopa and Marsillam
\nSimandjuntak, before his presidency failed because of a lack of
\npolitical power.<\/p>\n
He lacked support from the legislature, the armed forces and
\nthe media. The picture for Susilo is reversed. The legislature is
\nnot prejudiced against him, the armed forces look to Susilo as
\ntheir savior and the media love him to a fault.<\/p>\n
Susilo starts with the highest amount of moral capital in the
\nhistory of Indonesian presidents. Unlike Sukarno's rise to power,
\nthe election of Susilo was explicit, nationwide and legitimized
\nby more than 110 million voters. Unlike Soeharto, Susilo did not
\nrise opportunistically to fill a vacuum. Unlike Habibie, Susilo
\ndid not inherit the presidency by default. Unlike Abdurrahman
\nWahid, the political parties were bypassed in the nation's first
\ndirect presidential election that elevated Susilo. Unlike
\nMegawati, he did not capitalize on the betrayal of his
\npredecessor. Susilo's victory is clean and complete. He is
\nbeholden to no one. Will he realize his independence and take
\ncharge?<\/p>\n
He has been skeptically described as a remnant of the New
\nOrder, as indecisive, as unable to shed his military background.
\nWell, this is the time to prove his critics wrong, as this
\ncommentator has been proven wrong in doubting his strength in the
\npolls. At no time in Indonesian political history has a leader
\nemerged with such an absolute mandate from the majority. And at
\nno time in Susilo's life has he been so popular.<\/p>\n
The question is this: Will he use this popularity as a
\nlaunchpad to make a better nation for us all? Will he carve a
\ngolden place in history for himself? Will he be able to transform
\nhimself from a New Order bright light into a leader totally
\ncommitted to changing the nation?<\/p>\n
The answers to these questions will be given to the world in a
\nfew days. When his Cabinet appointments are announced, the people
\nwill know. Will Susilo emerge as a real political leader, or will
\nhe still play defensive tactics in a game where he has eliminated
\nall opposition?<\/p>\n
The political baggage that hampered his predecessors is no
\nlonger a problem. Susilo is traveling light, with no political
\ndebts. He owes nothing to major political parties. He does not
\nneed to look over his shoulder because his mandate comes directly
\nfrom the people. He need not fear the legislature because it is
\nthe people he has to respect, not the people's representatives.<\/p>\n
He need not be beholden to campaign contributors because he
\nneeds no political money to run his government when he can
\nreclaim the state's money that used to be siphoned off by
\ncorruption. He need not be afraid of the Army if he improves
\ntheir lot by remolding the organization into the popular military
\nof Indonesia's younger years.<\/p>\n
Susilo can write his own book. It would be a shame if he were
\nto copy from his New Order notes. All the people will be watching
\nhis Cabinet appointments. He does not need to juggle among
\npolitical candidates as long as he keeps the people behind him by
\nchoosing ministers of integrity.<\/p>\n
We are so used to horse-trading in Cabinet appointments that
\nmany people (probably even Susilo himself) take it for granted
\nthat compromise is an essential part of the process. Not so this
\ntime. The unique moral capital bestowed upon the new president by
\nhis landslide election victory makes it possible for Susilo to
\ncall his own shots. If he were to seek advice, it should be from
\nwell-intentioned individuals rather than from political brokers
\nand pressure groups driven by self-interest.<\/p>\n
Here then is the test. Does Susilo know enough well-
\nintentioned people? The danger signs show him surrounded by a
\nnumber of unsavory types and opportunists. Maybe those are his
\nold friends. But can he reach beyond them and find the true
\nreformers who have driven the soul of the nation since 1997? Even
\nmore basic, is it easy for him to tell right from wrong?<\/p>\n
As an example, the appointment of Marsillam Simandjuntak as
\nattorney general would make things very simple. As a former
\nattorney general who was ready to go when the administration he
\nwas serving collapsed, he could just reopen his files and start
\nthe waves of prosecution he was about to start under Abdurrahman
\nWahid.<\/p>\n
Nobody would oppose the choice of Marsillam except for people
\nwith political interests and, of course, the corruptors
\nthemselves. Some of them have made barricades for themselves by
\ngetting elected to office. Should there be any opposition,
\nMarsillam would easily quell the dissent by bringing leading
\ncorruptors to trial.<\/p>\n
What about dealing with state violence? Some say Susilo could
\nlack the courage to confront the perpetrators of human rights
\nabuses as they were once his superiors. No longer the case. He is
\nnow beyond dispute the boss. This was made very clear because
\nsome of the worst perpetrators were actually presidential
\ncontenders and were publicly defeated. He does not have to fear
\nSoeharto, Wiranto, or anyone else because now he is the president
\nand commander of the armed forces. Any human rights abuses from
\nnow on will be the responsibility of president Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono.<\/p>\n
If the competition for power was a Formula One race, Susilo
\nhas left his rivals behind by several laps. The erstwhile rivals
\nare old friends from previous races, but now they are standing
\nbetween Susilo and his destiny. The only thing for him to do is
\nkeep up the momentum and leave them further behind to win the
\nrace. We hope he does not pause, look back and wait for his old
\nfriends to catch up.<\/p>",
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