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