Call a state of emergency
Nobody doubts the power of trust and confidence. This is as true in interpersonal relations between people, like family members, as it is of a government and its people.
In a time of crisis, this confidence is vital in solving problems, in addition to the task of taking correct steps and making appropriate decisions. In an atmosphere like this, the people's trust will create the moral support needed to improve the situation. When they are lacking, then all the government's steps, however good and well-intentioned, will be viewed with suspicion.
The government must show its sincerity, must be clean from corruption, collusion and nepotism and be able to solve problems. Some steps made by the government lately were far from being conducive to the creation of the right atmosphere.
The case of the president director of the state electricity company PLN is one. One day, Mr. Djiteng was going to be fired, then not, then he was to be fired, only to be put off again, because Minister for the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng needed to confer with a House commission. It was all so very confusing.
Same was true of the replacement of the attorney general. Soedjono had been appointed by Soeharto but he stayed in power after the latter stepped down. When he was suddenly replaced, the minister/state secretary said there was nothing wrong. Yet everybody knows and feels there is something fishy going on. People automatically connected his dismissal with the fact that Soeharto is still the real power in Indonesia and Habibie is just a front, that Soedjono was considered too "progressive" in trying to probe the former president's wealth.
Another example is the "quiet" sale of 49 percent of Krakatau Steel which, after protests, was canceled.
There is also the issue of the belated official announcement of the government's position on the mid-May riots which shamed our people. The government's official condemnation came one whole month after the incident, something difficult to understand. The President had already gone to see the ransacked and burned area of Glodok, but at that psychologically important moment no condemnation was issued.
Lawlessness affects the mood of the people and plants doubts in the hearts and minds not only of the Indonesian people, but also in the international community on the capability of the government to maintain law and order. Armed robberies, sometimes in broad daylight, ransacking and burning of buildings, murders and other kinds of violence go on unchecked. People are now trying to defend themselves, with some attempting to get or buy weapons for their self-defense. What is the consequence of this?
The International Monetary Fund's and other international organizations' loans were postponed, the rupiah continues to go down and the economy gets worse.
Sofyan Wanandi, chairman of the Gemala Group, said that the government must step in to stop the lawlessness, which occurred nationwide. Sofyan cited a company which had to stop operations because of the troubles. No business will be possible without the presence of law and order.
I propose the government declare a state of emergency so it can take harsh measures to cope with this situation. This uncertain situation causes not only a capital drain but also a brain drain. I think it is about time the government started thinking seriously about declaring a state of emergency. This is especially true at this crucial time international bodies are trying to help Indonesia financially. We must ensure that all those funds will be used correctly and that the government will look earnestly after the security problem.
Another important thing I want to mention is that the ministry of information is not doing enough. The only activity I have observed of this ministry is to announce the results of Cabinet meetings. They should go down to the people, talk things over and explain reasons for the government's steps, appealing to them to support the government in these very difficult times for the benefit of all of us.
SOEGIH ARTO
Jakarta