To impeach or not to impeach<\/p>\n
Just how close Indonesia got to a state of emergency and to a
\nreshuffle of its military leaders last weekend is difficult to
\ntell precisely; but it looked like a very close shave indeed.
\nMegawati, perhaps buoyed by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's success in
\nthe Philippines, scuttled about and, despite her normal
\ntaciturnity, made speeches that, this time, gave us more than a
\nhint as to the approach she would adopt should she, albeit
\nreluctantly, become president.<\/p>\n
Despite the tension in the air, President Abdurrahman \"Gus
\nDur\" Wahid nonchalantly took a slow train to central Java,
\nmissing the very Cabinet meeting Megawati had been so keen to
\nattend.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur's veiled threats and apparent indifference to the
\nhectic activity of his vice president and senior military
\nofficers may, though, have been part of yet another of his subtle
\nstrategies that gained him the presidency and removed opposition
\nto him in the military in the first place. If so, it may be
\nworking, for now many are having second thoughts about the
\nimpeachment process. This will almost certainly frustrate Amien
\nRais whose chameleon-like maneuverings within the Axis Force are
\nundoubtedly aimed at improving his chances of being elected
\npresident in 2004.<\/p>\n
Amien Rais must know that Megawati's chances of doing any
\nbetter than Gus Dur in governing this huge, unwieldy and socio-
\neconomically sick land that is currently in the throes of moving
\nfrom dictatorship to democracy, are very slim indeed. All the
\nmore so if she rises to power by alienating the Nahdlatul Ulama
\nand the President's National Awakening Party. What better way for
\nAmien Rais to discredit his opponents than to threaten to impeach
\none protagonist until forced to hand the reigns of this bucking
\nbronco to another?<\/p>\n
Just the opposite, however, is the best way to keep this
\nnation together and on course -- by demonstrating to all
\nconcerned a high level of cooperation between leaders for the
\nsake of the country. Those who place their personal ambition
\nbefore the welfare of the people should not be allowed to
\nengineer division purely for the sake of political gain.<\/p>\n
FRANK RICHARDSON<\/p>\n
Tangerang, Banten<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/to-impeach-or-not-to-impeach-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }