A challenge for Habibie

A challenge for Habibie

Haji Muhammad Soeharto's resignation, or departure, as
president of the Republic of Indonesia culminated in the current
reform drive. With his public statement of resignation on
Thursday, May 21, the purpose of the campaign is as good as
achieved. However, more than merely the replacement of Soeharto
as president, the real objective of the campaign goes
substantially deeper and aims at ensuring that the law and the
Constitution are upheld, and that democracy as a civil
manifestation of the people's sovereignty can grow.

We would like to emphasize this point because, in essence, the
reform movement was prompted by our failure to consistently
sustain the renewal process that began with the birth of the New
Order era. Indeed, there were indications that this process of
renewal -- which essentially is nothing but reform -- had slowed
down, or had even stagnated.

For this reason we would like to underscore the Armed Forces'
political stand as made public by the minister of defense/Armed
Forces commander. To proceed with the reform campaign by methods
prone to manipulation by destructive elements would injure us
all.

For this reason the new cabinet under President B.J. Habibie
should, aside from ensuring the consistent continuation of the
reform drive, heed the people's aspirations to eliminate
corruption, collusion and nepotism

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta