A crucial moment for Habibie

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