A crucial moment for Habibie

Twenty-one draft decrees are reported to be ready to be discussed during the forthcoming extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly. The United Development Party faction is reported to have proposed a draft decree that would mandate President B.J. Habibie to investigate former president Soeharto concerning his policies while in office, his personal wealth and that of his family and the high-ranking officials of his New Order regime. The faction of regional representatives is said to be preparing a draft decree that would require Soeharto to account for his actions and policies enacted during the period from March 14, 1997, to May 21 this year.

Irrespective of how the process will move and what the results might be, Habibie must make sure that the process of governing continues smoothly, and he must prevent the current food crisis from getting worse -- especially with regard to the provision and distribution of essential commodities. Unless he manages to do this, a situation could arise whose impacts are likely to cause drawn-out political and social instability. What options does President B.J. Habibie have?

The political pressures are bound to get heavier in the near future. Therefore, the accommodating stance which the government has adopted so far should be given more substance and not left to be merely symbolical in nature. The student demonstrations that have occurred lately indicate that their political demands have begun to become more crystallized and that more thoroughly conceived methods may be expected. The ball is in Habibie's court. He must never forget his position as holder of the people's mandate, use good judgment, remain just and heedful of the moral teachings of his religion and not let himself be guided by his personal instincts.

-- Republika, Jakarta