Amien Rais warns against violent political reform

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)