Amien vows to go on with demos despite Soeharto's promise

Amien vows to go on with demos despite Soeharto's promise

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's promise to see through
reform is not good enough and plans to hold massive
demonstrations to convince him to step down will go ahead, Moslem
scholar Amien Rais said.

"His statement shows that he is not willing to step down, that
he is ignoring the aspirations of his own people," said Amien,
who has become Indonesia's leading opposition figure.

Amien suggested Soeharto's apparent willingness to hold
general elections "as soon as possible" was merely an attempt to
avert further pressure. "He's simply buying time to consolidate
his power," he said.

If he had the opportunity to meet Soeharto himself, Amien
said, he would tell the President: "I was very disappointed by
the statement, I was stunned. I would say he should change his
mind, before it's too late."

"The people have unanimously demanded that he stand down
without any conditions... so the country can launch political,
legal and economic reform," he said.

Amien also said Soeharto should apologize to the people for
his mistakes and be held responsible for a "corrupt"
administration.

Amien, chairman of 28 million-strong Muhammadiyah Moslem
organization, is at the forefront of people campaigning for
reform and Soeharto's resignation. The other leading government
critics are Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted chairwoman of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), and former minister Emil
Salim.

The three have all been mentioned as potential presidents and
vice presidents at some stage in the recent campaign for reform.
All have asserted their willingness to be elected as the
country's next leaders.

Megawati refused to comment yesterday, but said she would call
a media briefing today.

Meanwhile, Emil said in a media briefing that Soeharto's
statement indicated his intention to remain in office as the sole
power-holder and to dictate what political change can take place.

Emil said that although Soeharto had acknowledged that a
transition of power would take place, he had not said when, or
what reforms would accompany it.

"He did not specifically mention when power would be
transferred," Emil said. Emil, a respected scholar, initiated
Gema Madani (the Echo of Civil Society) during the run up to the
general session of the People's Consultative Assembly in March.
The movement aimed to improve the civilian bargaining position in
the country's military-dominated political scene.

"The time frame is so dubious, it could be short...three
months...but it could also be two years," Emil said, adding the
ambiguity would create yet more uncertainty, the very reason why
the country had fallen into the present state of economic and
political turmoil.

Emil said Soeharto's leadership no longer reflected the
aspirations of the people.

"Crisis can only be overcome if President Soeharto immediately
shows his willingness to resign voluntarily and transfer power to
the Vice President (B.J. Habibie), in line with the 1945
Constitution," Emil said.

He also said Habibie's main task would be to prepare for an
extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly
within three months to elect a new president and vice president.

When asked to speculate on whether Soeharto's plans for reform
and a general election were merely part of a ploy to buy him more
time, Emil said: "I begin with the assumption that he is
honest ... that he is sincere."

Reshuffle

Comments on President Soeharto's plan to reshuffle his cabinet
and establish a committee for reform poured in yesterday from
individuals and groups.

Forum Demokrasi, a loose association of government critics,
rejected all of Soeharto's plans. In a statement signed by Bondan
Gunawan and Todung Mulya Lubis, the group said: "The resignation
of President Soeharto and Vice President B.J. Habibie remains a
prerequisite for reform."

"We will support students campaigning for reform until a
transitional national leadership has been established," they
said, adding that the steps were "absolutely essential for
democratization."

Indonesia's leading rights organization YLBHI (the Indonesian
Legal Aid Foundation) and other similar organizations said
President Soeharto's statement was an intentional dismissal of
demands for sweeping reform.

In a statement signed by Dadang Trisasongko, the organizations
said that even the decision, reached through consultation with
only nine community leaders, was unconstitutional. "It should be
rejected because those present did not represent the country's
political spectrum," Dadang said.

The organizations insisted that an extraordinary session of
the MPR be convened to dismiss Soeharto, Habibie and the cabinet,
and to establish a "transitional government" free of interference
from the military.

Professors from Pasundan University School of Social and
Political Sciences in Bandung, West Java issued a statement
rejecting the planned committee for reform. They said its duties
would overlap with those of the existing legislative body.

They also said the plan was an attempt to distract leaders of
the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative
Assembly from their campaign to make Soeharto step down.

However, Solly Lubis, a professor of constitutional law at
North Sumatra University in Medan cast Soeharto's speech in a
different light yesterday. He said it was an effort to present
his own concept of the changes necessary in the power structure
to the people.

"It is up to the House of Representatives to decide on how to
process (Soeharto's offer) and bring it before the People's
Consultative Assembly," he said.

"Soeharto's statement should be accepted and responded to
wisely, so that a smooth, respectable and constitutional
resignation can be facilitated," he said.

ABRI

Meanwhile, General (ret) A.H. Nasution issued a statement
calling on the Armed Forces (ABRI) to fight for the aspirations
of the people. He said the statement made by House leaders on
Monday which urged Soeharto to step down reflected a desire
existing in society that should be respected.

"In facing the critical problems of our time, all forces in
our nation, including the government and ABRI, should take heed,
respond to the aspirations of the people and avoid
unconstitutional action."

"ABRI must remember... (that soldiers must) fight for honesty,
truth and justice," he said.

Economist Faisal Basri and lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution
separately expressed their conviction that a cabinet reshuffle
would do nothing to alleviate the economic crisis.

In Medan, North Sumatra, two politicians from minority
parties, however, chose to look at the bright side of the
situation and welcomed Soeharto's plan to hold a fresh general
election.

Hasrul Azwar of the United Development Party (PPP) and Patawi
Bowie of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) separately agreed
their tiny parties might secure greater support.

They said an amendment to the laws which have been blamed for
political injustice would help them make a greater impact on the
political scene.

The existing laws, Azwar said, "are not democratic and favor
(the ruling) Golkar organization...at the expense of (smaller
parties)."

However, Patawi said that holding another election so soon
after the last one would not be easy. (swe/byg/21)