Compromise key in lineup

JAKARTA (JP): Compromise means six generals -- retired or otherwise -- 11 politicians, eight scholars, some of them affiliated to political parties, three activists and three businessmen are grouped into one.

Those are basically the professional backgrounds of some of the new Cabinet announced by President Abdurrahman Wahid, who said the lineup was the result of negotiations and bargaining involving the country's major political forces.

Some facts about the new Cabinet include:

* Old faces: Three served in the former cabinet (Wiranto, Juwono and Hamzah). Sarwono served for two terms under Soeharto as minister for state administrative reforms (1988-93) and environmental minister (1993-98). Surjadi was governor of Jakarta.

* Gender: Only two women were selected (Erna and Khofifah). There were also two women in the last cabinet.

* Military (6): Gen. Wiranto, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Surjadi Soedirdja, Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar, Rear Admiral Freddy Numberi and Admiral Widodo. There were also six military people in the previous cabinet.

* Politicians (11): Alwi (PKB), Yusril (PBB), Kwik (PDI Perjuangan), Nur Mahmudi (PK), Hamzah (PPP), Bomer (Golkar Party), Zarkasih (PPP), Mahadi (Golkar), Khofifah (PKB), Hasballah (PAN) and Marzuki (Golkar).

Scholars/researchers (8): Juwono, Bambang Sudibyo, Prakosa, Sujudi, Yahya, Tolchah, Hikam and Hilal.

Business (3): Jusuf, Anak Agung and Laksamana.

Labor movement (1): Bomer.

Activists (3): Sarwono, Erna and Soni.

Academic titles:

* Two professors (Juwono and Yusril).

* Seventeen doctorate degree holders (Alwi, Juwono, Yusril, Bambang Sudibyo, Prakosa, Nur Mahmudi, Hamzah, Bomer, Sujudi, Yahya, Hikam, Soni, Riyas, Rafik, Hasbalah, Anak Agung and Ali Rahman).

* Three law graduates (Yusril, Bomer and Marzuki).

* Five engineering graduates (Sarwono, Erna, Laksamana, Rafik and Hilal).

* Six social science graduates (Kwik, Jusuf, Tolchah, Zarkasih, Hidayat and Khofifah).

* One medical doctor: Sujudi.