Activists worry about Susilo's possible victory

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The imminent victory of Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the Sept. 20 election runoff may jeopardize attempts to uphold human rights and democracy, NGO activists say.

Citing his military background, activists said on Wednesday they would remember his campaign promises.

"We will note his campaign promises on democracy and human rights and see to it that he keeps them -- considering his track record as a retired general," Ori Rahman of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) told The Jakarta Post.

He said Susilo was allegedly involved in East Timor violence, as well as the attack on the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters on July 27, 1996.

"These promises were made by a person who has a problematic human rights record, this may not bode well for the future," Ori said.

Susilo's career, like that of many other military officers here, was enriched by a tour of duty in the country's former province of East Timor. A number of human rights violations followed Indonesia's rule from 1975 to 1999.

Susilo was the Jakarta Military chief of staff at the time of the July 27, 1996 attack, an event that eventually catapulted Megawati Soekarnoputri to the national stage as the victim of a repressive government.

Another major factor -- which Ori said would be a problem for civil society -- is the fact that, as a former general, Susilo and his supporters have a strong esprit de corps.

This could hinder the settlement of human rights cases committed by military members, he added.

"We might end up learning that his promises on human rights and democracy will never materialize," he said.

Aceh activist Otto Syamsuddin Ishak of the Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Impartial) said that the military would exploit Susilo to expand their political influence.

"Judging from his indecisive nature and his previous statements, the military will use him to regain their political clout. I am very much pessimistic about his leadership," Otto told the Post.

The military wielded great power during the 32-year authoritarian rule of Soeharto.

Citing Aceh as an example, Otto said Susilo had never presented a clear program, or steps to be taken to restore peace to the war-torn province.

"He will make a political concession to the military on the Aceh issue -- a peace initiative will never come from warring parties in the province," the activist said.

Activist Dita Indah Sari said that the rise of Susilo signaled the start of systematic efforts to curb the civilian role in politics.

"The military's role in politics will automatically return. Repressive actions and the limitation of free speech are possible," Dita said.

"He does not have a clear concept of the settlement of human rights cases, he could become a dangerous figure," she said.