America lauds RI's struggle for reform

America lauds RI's struggle for reform

Ralph L. Boyce, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Jakarta

I note our successes and our set backs to emphasize that the
rule of law is a process, not an end-point. Bold steps by
Indonesia to make its government more representative, more
transparent, and closer to the people, and strong actions to
eradicate corruption will help resolve inter group conflicts. And
it can best achieve this by enshrining the rule of law in its
legal and judicial institutions. The resulting security and
predictability will attract the foreign investment necessary to
restore high levels of economic growth, improving the lives of
all Indonesians.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri's government has demonstrated
its commitment to improving the rule of law. The United States
will do all it can to support that effort. In the last year the
Indonesian government has done more to root out corruption, try
those responsible for past crimes, and make the justice system
work than at any other time in Indonesia's history.

To bring court cases against the son of a former president,
speaker of parliament, former head of the State Logistics Agency,
president of the central bank, dozens of wealthy businessmen,
former provincial governors, militia members, and several high
ranking military officers is an impressive, unprecedented drive
for accountability in Indonesian history. This drive for
accountability must be maintained to ensure that transparency,
respect for human rights, and the rule of law take root and
flourish.

The Indonesians have also worked diligently to tackle the
causes of separatist violence. The special autonomy law for Papua
addresses the problems in that resource rich province and is a
model of responsive legislation, crafted in close consultation
with the public.

The Special Autonomy law for Aceh represents an excellent
basis for resolving the conflict there as well. We strongly
support the dialog process between the Indonesian government and
the Free Aceh Movement to bring peace to Aceh and improve the
lives of the Acehnese people. Again, promoting the rule of law
and respect for human rights are essential to achieving that
goal.

President Megawati's government's comprehensive efforts to
forge peace in Maluku and Central Sulawesi through the Malino
Accords again demonstrate Indonesia's commitment to reform,
justice and accountability. I hope the Indonesian government will
intensify its efforts to make the promise of those Accords a
reality.

Such a drive would be impressive if it took place in isolation
but, remarkably, the people and government of Indonesia are
carrying out a sweeping transformation of the state at the same
time with the most far reaching program of decentralization ever
carried out, anywhere. Thousands of government workers have moved
from the center to the local level and a vast range of powers and
responsibilities have moved with them.

These efforts, coupled with the constitutional reform process
that is taking place in the Peoples' Consultative Assembly right
now, holds the promise of totally transforming Indonesian
democracy in a remarkably short period of time. President
Soeharto's fall in 1998 to direct presidential elections in 2004
will signal the completion of this first bold phase of reform in
just a few years.

Last week, President Megawati, Coordinating Minister for
Economic Affairs Dorodjatun Kuntjoro Jakti and Coordinating
Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono all stressed their commitment to reform, rule of law
and accountability in their meetings with Secretary of State
Colin Powell. The Secretary urged this great nation to redouble
its efforts in that regard and to fight corruption and strengthen
the rule of law and respect for human rights.

In this, he was exactly right. Indonesia's strength and its
wealth is its diversity. Yet, managing that diversity remains
its greatest challenge. Democracy and the rule of law have proven
themselves the world over as the most effective way to promote
pluralism, ensuring that no group or person is left behind. They
can, and will, do the same here in Indonesia.

The U.S. is expanding our partnership with Indonesia to
achieve those ends. We already provide millions of dollars in
training to the Indonesian police and will provide some US$47
million more during the next four years.

Through the U.S. Agency for International Development, we are
providing wide-ranging assistance to improve Indonesia's justice
system. We support efforts to resolve and prevent conflict in
Aceh, Papua, Sulawesi, and Maluku with food, shelter, materials,
carpentry kits, community reconciliation programs, economic
assistance, education, and in some cases resettlement assistance.

We fund assistance to local governments to improve services
through better planning and budgeting and expanding community
participation. The hope is a stronger, more accountable
government that is able to make the most out of decentralization.
We also provide support Indonesian organizations and training to
help Indonesia lawmakers, both at the center and in the regions,
to achieve their legislative goals.

The enormous changes that Indonesia has already carried out
and the profound transformations still going on will reinforce
Indonesia's ability to compete-and win-in today's fast moving
global market place. Indonesia has been a pioneer of
international commerce. It's diversity and commitment to reform
will open the doors to a great future. Indonesians demand much of
themselves and of their leaders, the road ahead will not be easy
but I know that they will stay on the path of justice that leads
to prosperity.

This paper was presented during the Castle Asia Conference on
Pluralism, Intergroup Conflict, and National Economic Recovery in
Jakarta on Aug. 7.