Amien Rais warns against violent political reform

JAKARTA (JP): Politician Amien Rais, who is running for the 1998/2003 presidency, reiterated yesterday that political reform was the answer to the ongoing monetary crisis but warned against sudden and violent state leadership succession.

Speaking to reporters after addressing a campaign to help alleviate people's suffering from the monetary crisis, Amien said political reform should be held in a democratic manner and in accordance to the constitution.

"I may disagree with some of President Soeharto's policies and even suggested presidential succession four years ago but I cannot agree with a succession that is held undemocratically and neglects the constitution," he said.

Amien was one among several Indonesians who declared their readiness to join the presidential race next March.

Other Indonesian citizens who have done the same include the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri, controversial politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas and the lesser-known PDI activist Berar Fathia.

Amien said he did not believe the theory that a democracy could be established with a violent transfer of leadership.

"I believe that violent leadership succession will only cause trouble rather than solve problems," he said.

He acknowledged there were groups of people who would be willing to expedite violent succession to create what they believed would be a new and stronger political elite.

Should this be adhered to and a new political power be established through violence, it would mean that the people would one day need even greater violence to replace the ruling power.

He also spoke out against using so-called "people's power" to wage a revolution to replace the current political power holder.

"Do not dream of revolutions," he told a gathering of 500 religious leaders, students and other activists. "Violent presidential succession will only cause bloodshed."

Political conspiracy

But he did not dismiss the possibility of the so-called political conspiracy currently waged by some people seeking immediate political reform in the country.

He said people need to learn and be wise in their search for political reform.

He said that should the local currency fail to regain strength within the next three weeks, some parties could wage "noneconomical and nonmonetary" pressures for political reform.

"We have to respond positively to such pressures, so that political reforms can occur as constitutionally as we expect," he said.

The call for careful political reform was also voiced separately by the Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo, who is a former student leader of the 1966 generation which helped usher in the New Order administration under President Soeharto.

"Political reform should be conducted gradually and carefully, with extreme caution and in the absence of social and political unrest," Siswono said.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating some high-ranking officials at the Ministry of Transmigration, he said that sudden and uncontrolled political reform would only destroy national stability.

"We have witnessed, for some 30 years, the nation's economic progress," he said. "And there was always a direct and positive correlation between political stability and economic growth."

Siswono said reforms should involve all elements of the nation, including the President, social and political organizations and the public.

"If we want to settle the crisis, then every one of us must get involved in creating political stability," he said.

He added that political change would only come about with people's political readiness and maturity. (09/imn)