Changing of the guard

Although this is not the first time President Soeharto has stunned the public with a surprise decision, many observers were clearly taken aback yesterday by the nomination of Gen. Hartono as minister of information.

Considering his service record, it had been expected that after his scheduled retirement next week, the 56-year-old Army chief of staff would be assigned a new post of importance. But few had expected him to be given a cabinet position of such strategic importance -- and certainly not in the middle of a presidential term, which happens very rarely in this country.

So, as of Wednesday next week, barring some highly unlikely unforeseen circumstances, Gen. Hartono will replace information minister Harmoko, who has held the post for more than 14 years. Apart from being a former journalist, Harmoko is also a seasoned politician and, it should be noted, one who led the dominant Golkar to its landslide victory in the May 29 general election.

Given all this, a few questions arise. One that concerns the media most is, how, in his capacity as minister of information, will Gen. Hartono compare to his predecessor, who apart from being close to the press is also a great communicator with the general public?

Those who contend that the presence of an Army general in this post does not bode well for the media should remember that the late Ali Moertopo was also an Army general, and his service to the growth of a healthy media should not be questioned. Whether Gen. Hartono will do equally well, or whether he will take a different road, is a question that only time will tell. But for the moment, his remark that he will not lightly revoke a news publication's publishing license is certainly welcomed.

Another question that now occupies the mind is what role will outgoing information minister Harmoko play in this country's political stage as state minister of special assignments. With Golkar having won almost three quarters of the votes cast in the past election, we believe that its chairman, Harmoko, will have his hands full preparing for the upcoming general session of the People's Consultative Assembly, which will elect the country's president and vice president for the next five-year term and outline the broad outlines of state policy that will usher the country into the new millennium.

As we look forward with confidence toward working together in a spirit of beneficial and productive cooperation, we welcome Gen. Hartono to his new post. We would also like to wish the outgoing Minister of Information Harmoko all the best, confident that he will do well in his new position.