Change of leaders

Change of leaders

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security
Soesilo Soedarman has warned that a crisis is likely to occur two
years from now if the nation fails to resolve today's rising
tension between conflicting political groupings.

The minister cited five sources of instability that will
attain its peak in the 1997-1998 period, that is when a change of
leadership will take place.

They are radical and exclusive social behavior, the influence
of Marxism returning, tension caused by centrifugal forces driven
by pluralism in race and religion, excessive worship of material
wealth, and inequality.

As we see it, all five factors are already well reflected in
our society today as the nation is caught in rapid change. If the
people's aspirations, arising from changes, can be channeled in
an appropriate way then a healthier political life will
materialize. The reverse is also true.

The minister's emphasis on the urgent need to narrow
differences of perception among the nation's political forces
deserves our attention. Consensus should be made on matters like
the system of Pancasila democracy.

In this line we would like to underline the importance of
adapting today's legislations to challenges of the future while
using our 1945 Constitution as a basis.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta