Amien 'neutral' over new cabinet

JAKARTA (JP): Moslem leader Amien Rais said yesterday he neither supported nor opposed the new cabinet appointed by President B.J. Habibie.

"The cabinet has a lot of technocrats in it but some of the names still reflect old ways," said Amien, who had been among the most outspoken members of the movement to oust former president Soeharto.

Soeharto stepped down Thursday after 32 years at the nation's helm and Habibie was immediately sworn in to replace him. The new President announced his 36-strong cabinet yesterday, introducing 16 new names from various groups, including political parties which had been excluded from the government for decades under Soeharto.

"I am neither endorsing nor opposing the cabinet," said Amien, leader of the Muhammadiyah Moslem group which claims a membership of 28 million. Some consider Amien a likely candidate to replace Habibie when and if Indonesia holds open elections.

Amien said five of the 36 cabinet members were indications that Habibie had not chosen the best possible team. He identified Minister of Trade and Industry Rahardi Ramelan, Minister of Health Farid Anfasa Moeloek, Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz, Minister of Social Services Justika Baharsjah and Minister of Agrarian Affairs Hasan Basri Durin as poor choices.

"Some of them appear to be linked to Cendana," he said, referring to the street where Soeharto lives.

Amien watched Habibie's televised announcement of the cabinet in a room at Muhammadiyah headquarters, which was packed with reporters and camera crews. He gave his reaction within minutes.

"I want to say, in my opinion, the cabinet will not last till 2003," he said.

Habibie's term as president expires in 2003.

"This cabinet is not aimed to last until the year 2003, but only to function as a transition team until fully democratic elections are held," Amien Rais.

Amien and other critics of the Soeharto government want Habibie to call fresh elections within a few months and call for a session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which would name a new president and vice president.

Human rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman separately concurred. He told The Jakarta Post that the cabinet lineup appeared to be a continuation of the Soeharto regime.

"I don't see the cabinet making any significant political changes," said Marzuki, who is deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights. However, he urged the cabinet to immediately draft policies reflecting popular demands for political reform.

"The challenge for the cabinet now is to give solid evidence through pro-reform policies," Marzuki said.

Marzuki also said that the new government must complete its investigations of missing person cases and of the May 12 killing of four Trisakti University students, and release all political prisoners unconditionally.

"If the government is really committed to reform, those things must be completed," he said.

Bambang Widjojanto of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation shared Marzuki's opinion, saying that most members of the new cabinet were known to be Soeharto loyalists.

He said some key posts such as the minister of home affairs and the minister information were given to individuals with questionable commitment toward reform. "Syarwan (Hamid) was involved in the ousting of Megawati Soekarnoputri," Bambang said.

Syarwan, former House deputy speaker, was the Armed Forces chief of sociopolitical affairs when Megawati, then the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), was ousted by a government-backed congress in Medan two years ago.

Praise

Praise for the cabinet came yesterday from former cabinet ministers Siswono Yudohusodo and Sarwono Kusumaatmadja.

"I notice that many people with good reputations are included in the cabinet. Let's hope they'll be successful," said Siswono, former transmigration minister.

"I know the new ministers, especially in the economic team, very well," said Siswono, former environment minister.

He added that the cabinet consisted of dedicated, honest and hard-working individuals.

Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives called on the public to give the new cabinet a chance to implement reform and solve the country's political, economic and legal problems.

Zamharir A.R. and Jusuf Syakir agreed that the cabinet faced a great challenge -- namely winning public support and restoring confidence in the government.

Former House speaker Idham Chalid separately expressed hope that the new cabinet would bring benefits to the people. Idham, who is also former chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization, called on all parties to unite and avert friction.

"Differences of opinion is a usual thing, but all parties should exercise restraint," Idham was quoted by Antara saying. (imn/byg/swe)