Big names form group for justice

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)