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)