Sustaining reform spirit<\/p>\n
With the students evicted, the clamor at the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) complex has subsided. But the flame of
\ntotal reform continues to burn everywhere.<\/p>\n
Within the House, though, the reformist spirit appears to have
\ndiminished. Home Minister Syarwan Hamid, who has yet to let go of
\nhis job as vice-chairman of the House and the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR), and Hamzah Haz, one of three House
\nmembers now occupying a ministerial post, agree that a MPR
\nextraordinary session should be held, but uniquely -- not to say
\nstrangely -- only for the purpose of electing a vice president.<\/p>\n
Some of those who called for total reform before also seem to
\nbe slowing down. These people feel that their respective groups,
\nor interests, have been accommodated by the present Reform and
\nDevelopment Cabinet. They would like to see President B.J.
\nHabibie continue to lead the current cabinet until 2003.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, campus activists, academics and all those
\nwho see themselves as true reformists regard the shift of power
\nfrom Soeharto to Habibie as merely a first step. The next step
\nshould be the holding of a special session of the MPR for the
\npurpose of electing a new president and vice president.
\nConstitutional lawyer Prof. Dr. Sri Sumantri goes even further
\nand suggests that all appointed Assembly members be replaced
\nbefore a special session is held.<\/p>\n
In the cabinet itself, Coordinating Minister of Economy,
\nFinance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita and other economic
\nministers have explicitly expressed their agreement with those
\nwho want total reform. They have expressed their willingness to
\nserve as ministers for a number of months, but not for five
\nyears. This means that they see themselves as members of a
\ntransitional cabinet and support the idea of speeding up
\nelections.<\/p>\n
What we see in this is differing perceptions about reform. On
\none side are those who continue to demand total reform which
\nwould lead to an overall renewal, including of the national
\nlegislature. On the other side, we see some people whose reform
\nspirit has slackened due to practical considerations and vested
\ninterests. The sad thing is that efforts have become apparent to
\nreduce the prevailing reformist spirit by using the banners of
\nreligion, an issue which we all hold sacred.<\/p>\n
This is a drift we must beware of lest the reform movement
\nends in an exhibition of empty rhetoric, or worse, becomes an
\ninstrument to serve certain particular interests. The reformist
\nspirit and stamina of our reform activists must be sustained and
\nguarded -- or else they may be swallowed up in the mode of
\nthinking of those with established interests.<\/p>\n
-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sustaining-reform-spirit-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }