Big names form group for justice

JAKARTA (JP): A group of former student leaders and activists of the 1966 generation yesterday formed an opposition group to fight unjust policies of President B.J. Habibie's administration.

The Movement for Indonesian Justice and Unity (GKPB) was proclaimed in a ceremony held at the Senayan Serbaguna Hall in Central Jakarta.

"We want to act as 'critical partner' against unrighteous policies of President Habibie's administration, including the Armed Forces," the movement's chief coordinator, Siswono Yudhohusodo, said.

"But we will also be critical of anybody who commits any wrongdoing."

Siswono, a former transmigration minister, cited the government's "unfair" treatment of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), as one example of Habibie's flagrant policies.

Habibie's government has continued to recognize only Soerjadi's camp of the PDI. Soerjadi ousted Megawati from the party chairmanship in a government-backed congress in 1996.

While the grouping currently identifies itself as a "movement" rather than a political party, it joins the ranks of other recently established groups sniping at the Habibie government.

The movement said it did not oppose the schedule set by the government for the extraordinary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the general election and subsequent presidential election.

"We can understand the deadlines set by the government as it will take time for them to make arrangements for the extraordinary session, the general election and the presidential election," Siswono said.

"We will not interfere with the agenda as it will be completely up to Assembly members to decide."

The extraordinary session of the Assembly are slated for November and the general election is planned for May or June.

Toto Praja Menggala, a coordinator of the movement, was more forbidding, saying the group would give Habibie's administration only until the Assembly's extraordinary session to show progress in alleviating the economic crisis and meeting demands for reform.

"Hopefully, our beloved brothers Habibie and (Minister/State Secretary) Akbar Tandjung can meet the people's demand for reforms and an immediate end to the economic crisis.

"Otherwise, we (the people) all have to think of ways of making sure the demands are fulfilled," he said without elaborating.

Party

When asked whether the group would evolve to become a political party, Siswono remarked he did not dismiss the possibility at this time.

"Establishing a political party is an option for our movement's next action. The creation of a party, however, will rest on our members' aspiration."

At present it is unclear how many members the movement has, but an impressive roster of figures was in attendance yesterday.

Among them were former chief of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. (ret.) Achmad Kemal Idris, former Jakarta governor Lt. Gen. (ret.) Ali Sadikin, former chief of the Armed Forces Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen. (ret.) Arie Sudewo and former deputy Army chief of staff Lt. Gen. (ret) Soerjadi.

Kemal Idris's presence was particularly significant since it indicated a possible alliance between the movement and his National Front party, which comprises retired generals and former officials.

When pressed by journalists, the movement's members denied their grouping was a reaction to the fact that many leading individuals in it were left out of the new Golkar executive board recently formed by Akbar Tandjung.

"It has nothing to do with the result of Golkar's recent extraordinary congress," Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, coordinator of the movement, said. (imn)